The Russian Defence Ministry has given Ukrainian fighters, who are in an industrial complex in the besieged port city of Mariupol, a fresh ultimatum, according to a Reuters report.
“Russia’s armed forces, based purely on humanitarian principles, again propose that the fighters of nationalist battalions and foreign mercenaries cease their military operations from 1400 Moscow time on 20th April and lay down arms,” the Russian Defence Ministry said.
Not a single Ukrainian soldier accepted the same offer on Tuesday, the ministry said in a statement.
Russian-backed fighters are reportedly trying to storm the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol where Ukrainian troops and civilians are said to be holding out.
In a post on Telegram, the Mariupol City Council said that despite the advantage of the many Russian troops in the city, they still have not been able to take Mariupol, and so “they want to level” the steel plant.
It further said that Russia was not deterred by the fact that civilians are also taking refuge in the complex.
Ukrainian President Zelensky said the situation remained “as tough as possible without any changes”, and the fate of tens of thousands of civilians remains unknown.
BBC