Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Red Cross on Sunday called for civilians to leave the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, the last stronghold of Ukrainian defenders in the southern Ukrainian port city that holds symbolic and strategic significance to both sides.
Russian forces have largely taken control of Mariupol.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said in a statement that it is deeply alarmed by the humanitarian situation in Mariupol and requested immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access to the city.
The Institute for the Study of War believes that the Russian forces are attempting to starve out the people remaining in the facility.
Zelensky said he spoke with the Turkish President about the need to evacuate the civilians from Mariupol.
Mariupol, a city with a pre-war population of about 400,000 and the largest trading port in southeastern Ukraine, became a key focus in Russia's offensive and has largely been reduced to rubble during the two months of fighting. At least 10,000 people have died in Mariupol during the invasion, and humanitarian efforts to evacuate civilians and provide supplies have repeatedly failed, according to the Mayor. Russian forces tried to evacuate civilians from Mariupol on Saturday, according to Petro Andryushchenko, Boychenko's advisor. The U.S. called Putin's claim of victory in Mariupol "disinformation."
The city is close to being wiped out. An advisor to Zelensky told NBC's Meet the Press that people are living without basic necessities. In an interview, Zhovkva said that Putin's claims of controlling the city were false.
Zelensky had a meeting on Sunday with the U.S. Secretary of State and Defense Secretary. Zelensky said that the two highest-ranking Americans to visit the country since the war began will be in Kyiv. The Pentagon and State Department have not commented on the trip.
Mariupol is a prized target for Russia.
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