Kyiv: Still holding to fight for the southern port city of Mariupol, the Ukrainian soldiers were given a new deadline to surrender. Moscow in a fresh ultimatum asked the forces to lay down arms on Wednesday. After eight weeks of fierce fighting, Russia which failed to capture Ukraine’s largest city was forced to shift east to refocus in and around the separatist regions. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s President called on the West to supply more arms and aid to his country.
On Tuesday, Russia stepped up attacks on the eastern cities of Kharkiv, Kramatorsk, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro west of the Donbas with missiles. So far air missiles targeted towards these cities have sabotaged 13 Ukrainian troops and weapons locations, while 60 airstrikes destroyed other military facilities. In the past 24 hours, around 1200 troop concentrations and 1300 military troops have been hit by the artillery. At least three were killed and 21 injured in Kharkiv shellings on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the US has pledged to send another $800 military aid package for Ukraine, as per sources. Asked if the US would be sending more military aid to Zelensky, Biden nodding in favour said, “If we had access to all the weapons we need, which our partners have, we would have already ended this war. It is unfair that Ukraine is still forced to ask for what its partners have been storing for years.” Earlier, White House Spoks Jen Psaki had told reporters that the US would continue to provide ammunition and other military assistance to Ukraine.