Russia gives ultimatum to Ukrainian forces in Mariupol to surrender – News

Russia has given Ukrainian forces in the besieged city of Mariupol until Monday (21) 4 a.m. local time [23h deste domingo (20), no horário de Brasília]To surrender, according to reports.

General Mikhail Mezintsev, a senior Russian commander, warned local city officials, including the mayor, that if they did not surrender, they would face a “court martial,” according to Russian state media.

He called on the official authorities in Kyiv to rescind previous orders to force Ukrainian fighters to “sacrifice themselves and become” Mariupol martyrs.

Russian forces were trying to break through Mariupol, engaging in street fighting as they bombed the city. It is believed that the Ukrainian forces defending the city are under severe pressure at the moment.

Mizintsev said Russia had proposed opening humanitarian corridors starting at 9 a.m. Monday to allow Ukrainian troops and civilians to leave Mariupol.

He claimed that Russia’s aims in the city were “purely humanitarian” and echoed Russia’s false claims that it was “nationalist” Ukrainian forces that had destroyed many large civilian buildings, which were in fact subjected to direct Russian air and missile strikes.