[ad_1]
Moscow and Kyiv traded blame over a failed ceasefire plan
Russia and Ukraine blamed each other today as attempts to establish a humanitarian corridor out of Mariupol failed for the second time. A Ukrainian National Guard member said on television that Russians continued shelling safe areas of the city.
Here’s your 10-point cheatsheet to this big story:
-
The evacuation of around 400,000 residents trapped by encircling Russian forces — attempted under a temporary ceasefire – was supposed to begin today. A similar plan had to be abandoned on Saturday after the ceasefire failed, with both sides trading charges.
-
The Ukraine 24 television showed a fighter of the Azov Regiment of the National Guard who said Russian and pro-Russian forces that have encircled the port city of Mariupol continued shelling the areas that were meant to be safe.
-
The Interfax news agency, meanwhile, cited an official of the Donetsk separatist administration, who accused the Ukrainian forces of failing to observe the limited ceasefire. Only about 300 people have left the city, he said.
-
British military intelligence has said Russian forces are targeting populated areas in Ukraine — including Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Mariupol — in retaliation against the Ukrainian army resistance that has come as a “surprise”. Russia has repeatedly denied that it is targeting civilian areas.
-
“Russia has previously used similar tactics in Chechnya in 1999 and Syria in 2016, employing both air and ground-based munitions,” the British military intelligence said.
-
Rationing of essential foodstuff has started in Russia as sanctions imposed over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine started pinching. Russia said caps were imposed to stop hoarding and black-marketing. Essential goods, whose prices are subject to state controls, include bread, rice, flour, eggs and selected meats and dairy products.
-
Over the weekend, Russian trade and industry ministry said there had been cases where essential foodstuffs had been purchased “in a volume clearly larger than necessary for private consumption (up to several tons) for subsequent resale”.
-
Earlier today, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened the existence of Ukrainian statehood, saying “The current (Ukrainian) authorities must understand that if they continue to do what they are doing, they are putting in question the future of Ukrainian statehood.”
-
Card payment giants Visa and Mastercard join the growing list of international brands refusing to do business with Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
-
The siege came as Russian forces inched closer to the capital Kyiv in an assault that has become ever-more indiscriminate — and deadly. Working-class towns such as Bucha and Irpin are in the line of fire, and air raids broke many people’s resolve to stay.
[ad_2]
Source link
