Mariupol, Ukraine with the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works plant behind buildings damaged in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict

⚡️#Putin called the storming of #Azovstal‘s industrial zone in #Mariupol unreasonable and ordered its cancellation. pic.twitter.com/ieGFVIqqEr

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) April 21, 2022

This morning.

Via The Guardian:

Russia has claimed it has captured the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, with the exception of the Azovstal metallurgical plant, where about 2,000 Ukrainian fighters are holding out. The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has ordered the plant to be blockaded, but cancelled plans to storm it.

More as we get it.

Russian defence minister claims to have captured Mariupol – reports (The Guardian)

Reuters

This morning.

Via BBC:

Russia has given Ukrainian forces in Mariupol a fresh ultimatum to lay down their weapons by 11:00 GMT. They’re holed up in a huge steelworks complex at the moment.

The port city is surrounded but still hasn’t fallen, and Ukraine’s foreign minister said Russia has decided to raze it to the ground.

Around 130,000 citizens have been blockaded in the besieged city for 50 days and are struggling to find food, water, and medicine, the city’s deputy mayor says.

‘Still 100,000 people left in devastated Mariupol’ (BBC)

BBC