US President Joe Biden has called for a “war crimes trial” following the alleged atrocities against civilians in the Kiev suburb of Bucha (see video above) and has announced further sanctions against Russia. Biden also called Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal again and the events in Bucha as war crimes.
Meanwhile, according to a US Department of Defense official, two-thirds of Russian units around the capital Kiev have withdrawn. Many would regroup in Belarus. It is likely that they would then be used in eastern Ukraine.
Evacuations: Ukraine accuses Russians of blockades
Ukraine accuses Russian troops of blocking International Red Cross evacuation efforts in Mariupol. Buses to rescue residents of the besieged port city failed to reach Mariupol, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on TV. Several attempts to get residents out of the city have already failed. Both sides blame each other.
According to the mayor, the city has been almost completely destroyed. “The sad news is that 90 percent of the infrastructure in the city has been destroyed and 40 percent cannot be restored,” Vadym Boichenko said at a news conference. About 130,000 people are still trapped in the city.
‘Bombings don’t stop’
Before the war, about 500,000 people lived in the city on the Azov Sea. “The Russian army is brutally destroying Mariupol,” Boichenko said. “The bombing doesn’t stop.” Notably, multiple rocket launchers would be used. According to Boichenko, most attacks come “from the sea”, where Russian ships are said to be stationed.
Mariupol has been cut off from all supplies for weeks and is under heavy fire from Russian troops. The situation in the city is disastrous. At least 5,000 people have been killed there since the attacks began more than a month ago, according to Ukrainian sources.
Attacks on Kharkiv
The Ukrainian General Staff also registered further Russian artillery attacks on the besieged city of Kharkov in eastern Ukraine. There is also a chance of air and missile strikes on civilian targets in Kharkiv, it said. In addition, Russia has strengthened air defenses for its troops in the region and for the town of Belgorod on the Russian side of the border. A fuel depot in Belgorod went up in flames last week and Russian sources spoke of two Ukrainian helicopters shelling it.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
