The battle between Russian and Ukrainian forces continues to rage in Mariupol. In the Azovstal steel plant , with the support of the aviation, the Russians resumed the offensive to take control of the plant where the defense forces of Kiev took refuge.
"For the second consecutive day, the Russian army has stormed the plant. There are heavy and bloody battles," said Azov regimental commander Denis Prokopenko - quoted by Ukrainska Pravda - in a video from inside the steel mill. Azovstal has been attacked for two days by ground, air and naval forces of the Moscow troops. "I thank the whole world for the enormous support of the Mariupol garrison. Our soldiers deserve it. In spite of everything, we continue to carry out the order: keep the defense," he added.
From Vladimir Putin , during a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett , the proposal came: "Yes to the humanitarian corridors for civilians in the steel mill, but the Ukrainian fighters must surrender ".
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mario Draghi reiterated the need to continue to "support Ukraine" . Among the aid made available by our country, 800 million euros for refugees fleeing the war and, as explained by Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini , " ammunition for defensive purposes to protect Ukrainian cities and citizens".
From their own cantro, a few days before the Victory Day over Nazi-Fascism, celebrated by the Russians on May 9 , the Russian authorities canceled the parade and march in the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk . This was stated by the first deputy head of the Russian presidential administration Sergei Kiriyenko, quoted by UNIAN: "The victory parade and march of the immortal regiment on this Victory Day in Donetsk and Lugansk are still impossible to hold. But that time will come soon. and the victory parades will pass through the streets of Donbass, "said Kiriyenko.
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The day by the hour:
Guterres (UN): "Ruthless war, stop it"
"The war on Ukraine is senseless in its scope, merciless in its scale and unlimited in its potential for global damage. The cycle of death and destruction must stop. The time has come to unite and end this war." This was stated by the UN secretary general at a meeting of the Security Council, reiterating that he also reaffirmed in Moscow and Kiev that "the Russian invasion of Ukraine is a violation of its territorial integrity and of the United Nations Charter".
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Usa: " Russian exercises worry us"
"We monitor the nuclear threat from Russia every day, these exercises worry us but we do not foresee an increase in forces on the eastern flank of NATO. We are able to defend ourselves and our allies." Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a press briefing, reiterating that "Russia's rhetoric on nuclear power is irresponsible. It doesn't benefit anyone".
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Pentagon: "We do not decide with Kiev the targets to hit"
The United States provides intelligence to Ukraine, but does not decide the targets together with Kiev. This was stated by the Pentagon spokesman, John Kirby, underlining that Ukraine combines all the information at its disposal and "makes its decisions and acts". The New York Times reported that the United States helped Kiev kill Russian generals.
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Air alarm in almost all of Ukraine
The air alarm is sounding in almost all regions of Ukraine. Ukraina 24 reports it on Telegram.
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New heavy bombing raids on Azovstal
"Warning! The assault on Azovstal continues! The defenders maintain control of the factory under heavy bombardment. The enemy uses airplanes, artillery and infantry." The Azov regiment writes it on its Telegram account, publishing a video of bombing the steel mill, enveloped in a huge blanket of smoke.
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Putin apologizes to Bennet for Lavrov's remark about Jewish Hitler
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an interview with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, apologized for the recent statements by Minister Sergey Lavrov who in an interview with Rete 4 said that Zelensky has Jewish origins "like Hitler", sparking anger of Israel. The news of the Russian president's apology was Bennett's office according to which the premier thanked Putin for "having clarified his thoughts towards the Jewish people and the memory of the Shoah".
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Minsk: "NATO troops on our borders, they can attack us"
"NATO troops are deployed near the borders with Russia and our country. Shock groups could be created in a short time starting from the presence of these troops for further uses against Belarus". This was stated by the Belarusian deputy chief of staff, Ruslan Kosygin, in a note published on Telegram cited by Tass. "In this situation, the United States and its allies have maximized anti-Russian and anti-Belarusian measures on all routes of critical importance to Russia and Belarus," Kosygin added.
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Kiev: "Counteroffensive in June"
"The first weapons that can stop the enemy will arrive in large numbers in late May or early June." This was stated by Oleksiy Arestovych, advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, quoted by the BBC, indicating that a possible large-scale counter-offensive against the forces of Moscow will probably not begin before mid-June.
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Putin: "Civilians leave Azovstal, but military surrender"
"Russia is ready to ensure a safe exit of civilians from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, but the military in the plant must surrender." President Vladimir Putin said this in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, according to the Kremlin.
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Counter-offensive in Kharkiv and Izium
Ukraine has launched counter-offensive operations in the Kharkiv and Izium areas. This was announced by the commander of the armed forces of Kiev Valery Zaluzhny in an update on the ground with General Mark Milley, the American chief of staff, according to reports from Ukrainska Pravda.
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"Russia ready to parade Russian prisoners"
Russia intends to have "our citizens" paraded in the "parade" of May 9 in Mariupol as "prisoners". The commissioner for human rights of the Ukrainian parliament, Lyudmila Denisova, wrote on Telegram.
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In Ukraine "4,000 civilian victims"
Iryna Venediktova, prosecutor of Kiev, there are already 4 thousand victims among civilians, of which 221 children, while over 400 children have been injured. The civilian targets hit would be 5,100, including 300 health facilities.
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Azovstal, Ukrainian military: "The Russians do not respect the truce"
Russia has not fulfilled the truce promised to ensure evacuation from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. The Ukrainian military denounced it.
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The Russians cancel the May 9 parade in Donetsk and Lugansk
In the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, Russian authorities canceled the parade and march for Victory Day on 9 May. This was stated by the first deputy head of the Russian presidential administration Sergei Kiriyenko, quoted by UNIAN: "The victory parade and march of the immortal regiment on this Victory Day in Donetsk and Lugansk are still impossible to hold. But that time will come soon. and the victory parades will pass through the streets of Donbass, "said Kiriyenko.
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Kremlin: "No new orders on Azovstal from Putin"
Russian President Vladimir Putin has not given new orders on the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. The spokesman for the Kremlin, Dmytry Peskov said, according to reports from TASS, specifying that the previous decision remains in force. On April 21, in the meeting between Putin and Defense Minister Shoigu, Putin decided to cancel the assault on the plant.
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Caritas: "Fifty 'Bucha' in Polyssia"
There are about fifty villages in Polyssia, a region in northern Ukraine bordering Belarus, which "have experienced horrors like Bucha". This was said to ANSA by the director of Caritas Kiev-Zhytomyr, Father Vitalyi Uminskyi, in the context of the meeting with the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need. There is talk of torture, killings of civilians, destruction and looting. In one of the villages, Maryanivka, five children died who had come out of the school shelter which was attacked at that time. The villages were occupied by the Russians for 47 days, now liberated, but only in these days have they been reached by Caritas, with great difficulty, because almost all the roads around are mined.
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Azovstal, rain of bombs on the steel mill
"As of now if there is hell in the world it is in Azovstal. The last 11 square kilometers of freedom in Mariupol have been turned into hell." This was stated by a councilor of the mayor of the city Petro Andriushchenko, quoted by CNN, explaining that "intense attacks on the steel plant did not stop all night and are continuing". "Non-stop assault, even at night with the regulation of the fire of drones. In some areas, hostilities are already beyond the factory fence, "he said.
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Kiev: "Azovstal defense became number one priority"
The Azovstal steel mill has become the "number one priority" for Ukraine's political and military leadership. An advisor to the Kiev defense minister, Yuriy Sak, said on a BBC radio broadcast, explaining that all efforts are focused on defending the industrial complex and making other evacuations. Azovstal is the last Ukrainian resistance garrison in the port city of Mariupol which, Sak said, has become the "heart" of the war. Sak acknowledged, however, that the situation in the steel plant is "extremely difficult" for the Kiev troops.
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Kiev: "221 children killed and 408 injured"
221 children have died and 408 have been injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This was announced by the Attorney General's office by disseminating the update of the toll on minors victims of war.
(Unioneonline)
