Kyiv: Reports have suggested that a Russian attack comprising forces making progress from the northeast is inching toward Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, ABC news reported on Saturday.
It further said that Russian tanks and artillery pounded places which were already under siege, adding that the shelling was so heavy that residents of one city were unable to bury the growing number of dead and people were also prevented from leaving the city.
The port city of Mariupol has been under an unceasing barrage of shelling that has thwarted repeated attempts to bring in food and water and evacuate trapped civilians. Reports said that on Friday, a tank appeared to fire directly on an apartment building, enveloping one side in a billowing orange fireball.
Also read: Neighbours struggle with refugee influx, Mariupol attack leaves UN shocked
A deadly Russian attack on a maternity hospital there earlier this week sparked international outrage and further intensified war-crime allegations. According to reports Mariupol’s death toll has crossed 1,500 in 12 days of attack.
Despite an continuing flow of weapons and other assistance from the West for Ukraine which have somewhat slowed the invading Russian forces, Russia’s stronger military and enormous resources threatens to grind down Ukrainian forces. The conflict has already forced 2.5 million people to flee the country.
Yesterday, President Joe Biden ruled out any direct intervention by the United States in Russia’s war against Ukraine, stating on Friday that such a NATO-Russia clash would lead to “World War III”. In a speech at the White House, Biden said, “We will not fight a war against Russia in Ukraine,” amid desperate calls from Ukraine for NATO to intervene against the Russian attack.
India Blooms News Service
