Mariupol Commander Makes ‘Last’ Plea For Help As Russian Forces Continue Assault

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Mariupol Commander Makes ‘Last’ Plea For Help As Russian Forces Continue Assault

A Ukrainian marine commander in the besieged city of Mariupol has made what he described as his troops’ “last address to the world” as they try to resist overwhelming Russian forces.

Major Serhiy Volyna said they were outnumbered and running out of supplies.

A Russian deadline for the surrender of Ukrainian forces has passed with no sign that the troops have complied.

The last holdouts are sheltering in the city’s huge Azovstal steel plant, reportedly with 1,000 civilians.

Kyiv said there was a tentative deal to rescue some civilians from the city.

The BBC reports, the city’s mayor, Vadym Boichenko, told national TV that Ukraine had hoped to send 90 buses to evacuate about 6,000 people on Wednesday. He said around 100,000 people are trapped in Mariupol.

However, regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko subsequently said that fewer buses than planned were able to reach trapped civilians and not many were evacuated.

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