Desk Report
Publish: 13 Mar 2022, 05:26 pm
Photo: Collected
Russian airstrikes killed nine people at a military base
outside Ukraine's western city of Lviv, local officials said Sunday, in an
attack that brings the conflict dangerously close to the Polish border.
Ukraine's capital Kyiv meanwhile prepared for possible
encirclement by Russian forces who invaded the country on February 24.
In a video address posted on social media late Saturday night,
President Volodymyr Zelensky was adamant that the Russians would not take
Ukraine.
"The Russian invaders cannot conquer us. They do not have such
strength. They do not have such spirit. They are holding only on violence. Only
on terror," he said.
After more than two weeks of attacks in eastern and southern
Ukraine, Russian forces have in recent days hit targets in the centre and now
the west, edging close to the frontier with EU and NATO member Poland.
Overnight, Russian missiles struck a military training ground in
Yavoriv near Lviv -- about 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the Polish border --
killing nine people and leaving 57 injured, local officials said.
It was a training centre for Ukrainian forces and also a hub for
joint exercises with NATO allies. Ukraine's defence minister said foreign instructors
worked there, but did not say whether they were present at the time of the
attack.
Meanwhile, efforts continue to get help to the strategic
southern port city of Mariupol, which aid agencies say is facing a humanitarian
catastrophe.
A convoy of aid headed for Mariupol was blocked at a Russian
checkpoint, but hoped to arrive on Sunday, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister
Iryna Vereshchuk said.
Ukraine says more than 1,500 civilians have died in a near
two-week siege, which has left the city without water or heat, and running out
of food.
Attempts to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people have
repeatedly failed.
"Mariupol is still surrounded. That which they cannot have
by war, (the Russians) want to have by hunger and despair. Since they cannot
bring down the Ukrainian army, they target the population," a French
military source said.
A top Russian officer described the situation in stark language.
"Unfortunately, the humanitarian situation in Ukraine is
continuing to deteriorate rapidly, and in some cities, it has reached
catastrophic proportions," said the head of the Russian National Defence
Control Centre, Mikhail Mizintsev.
In his video address, Zelensky appealed for more aid.
"I keep reiterating to our allies and friends abroad; they
have to keep doing more for our country, for Ukrainians and Ukraine. Because it
is not only for Ukraine, but it is for all of Europe," he said.
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