Russian forces pummeled the 2,000 Ukrainian fighters still holed up inside the sprawling Azovstal plant, the last known pocket of resistance in the strategic southern port city, the mayor’s office reported. That prompted Ukrainian accusations that the Russians are trying to conceal the slaughter of civilians in the city. Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared victory in the battle for Mariupol despite the steel-mill holdouts. “It will now be difficult for our forces, because our guys in Mariupol were taking (those units) on themselves. Putin’s lead negotiator at the talks, Vladimir Medinsky, said he held several lengthy conversations Friday with the head of the Ukrainian delegation.

Source: Libya Today April 23, 2022 04:17 UTC