UN humanitarian spokesman Saviano Abreu told the Associated Press on Sunday that the effort to get people out of the extensive Azovstal steel plant was done in co-operation with the International Committee of the Red Cross and in coordination with Ukrainian and Russian officials. He described the situation as “very complicated” and gave no further details. Up to 1,000 civilians are believed to have been killed along with about 2,000 Ukrainian fighters under the extensive Soviet-era steel plant that is the only part of the city not occupied by the Russians.
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: – Ukrainian forces fight overwhelming Russian advance in eastern Donbass – The wives of the defenders of Mariupol call for the removal of the soldiers from the final detention – Some Ukrainians return to the front line to their homes, despite the dangers – Ukrainians learn how to clear mines in Kosovo – Angelina Jolie surprises for a visit to Ukraine, meets children Follow all the AP stories about the Russian war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: BERLIN – German Chancellor Olaf Soltz has dismissed criticism that his government is not doing enough to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian invasion. Although Germany has reversed its policy of not sending weapons to countries at war, Scholz has been accused at home and abroad of hesitation and delay in helping Ukraine. In an interview published Sunday in the Bild newspaper, the Social Democrat leader defended his government’s approach. “I make my decisions quickly – and in coordination with our partners,” Scholz was quoted as saying. “I suspect that I am acting very hastily and that Germany is doing it alone.” Germany broke with tradition after the February 24 invasion of Russia to supply anti-tank weapons, surface-to-air missiles and other military equipment to Ukraine. It has since agreed to supply Gepard anti-aircraft guns, but Scholz has come under increasing pressure to ship other heavy weapons, including tanks and other armored vehicles. Solz, who replaced Angela Merkel as chancellor late last year, said he was not bothered by opposition claims that he was too hesitant and timid. “It is part of a democracy that is strongly challenged by the opposition,” he said.
VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has again called for the safe evacuation of Ukrainians trapped in the Mariupol steel plant, saying he weeps over their suffering and how their city was “barbarically bombed and destroyed”. Speaking on Sunday during his traditional noon prayer, Francis urged all believers to pray the Rosary every day in May for peace. He noted that May 1 marks the beginning of the month that Christians dedicate to Mary, the mother of God, for whom she is called Mariupolis. He said: “Even now, even from here, I am renewing the call for safe humanitarian corridors for those trapped in the steel mills of this city. “I suffer and cry thinking about the plight of the Ukrainian people, especially the weakest, the elderly and children.” He noted the “terrible reports of children being expelled and deported” and the “terrible setback of humanity”.
WARSAW, Poland – The Polish Armed Forces said Sunday that they have begun military exercises involving thousands of NATO troops. They are regular exercises aimed at improving security on the east side of the alliance, but they come this year with Russia’s war against Ukraine raging. Due to these conditions, the Polish army appealed to the public on Sunday not to publish information or photos from the columns of military vehicles that are expected to move in the country in the coming weeks. He warned that “inappropriate activity” could damage the security of the alliance. “Let us be aware of the dangers!” said the statement. The Polish Army said in a statement that 18,000 troops from more than 20 countries took part in Defender Europe 2022 and Swift Response 2022 exercises in Poland and eight other countries. The exercises are scheduled to take place May 1-27.
RZESZOW, Poland – US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the courage of the Ukrainian people and pledged continued US support to help Ukraine defeat Russia after a congressional delegation headed to Kyiv to assess Ukraine’s needs. next phase of the war. Pelosi, a Democrat from California who is the next in a row for the presidency after the vice president, is the highest-ranking US lawmaker to visit Ukraine since the war in Russia began more than two months ago. She and half a dozen U.S. lawmakers met for three hours on Saturday with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his top aides. Speaking to reporters in Poland on Sunday, members of the delegation unanimously praised Ukraine’s defense so far and offered continued long-term military, humanitarian and financial support, promising that the United States would stand by Ukraine until it defeats Russia. “This is a time when we are defending democracy or allowing authoritarianism to rule the day,” said Gregory Mick, a Democrat from New York. Colorado Democrat Jason Crow, a veteran and member of the House Intelligence and Intelligence Committee, said he came to Ukraine with three areas of focus: “Guns, Guns, and Guns.” He said: “We have to make sure that the Ukrainians have what they need to win. “What we have seen in the last two months is their savagery, their intense pride, their ability to fight and their ability to win if they have the support to do so.” Pelosi said she was “dazzled” by Zelensky’s know-how on all issues and described him at their meeting as “a remarkable mainstream leadership”.
LONDON (Reuters) – Russian “cyber soldiers” have launched a new offensive against foreign leaders, targeting social media platforms with a large-scale disinformation campaign seeking to legitimize the invasion of Ukraine, according to a US-funded investigation. Paid agents working from a factory in St. Petersburg use the Telegram messaging app to recruit and coordinate supporters who then flood the Kremlin critics’ social media accounts with comments in support of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian President Vladimir Putin. said the UK Foreign Office on Sunday. The so-called troll factory has developed new techniques to avoid detection on social media platforms by posting comments and promoting pro-Kremlin content created by legitimate users instead of creating its own content, the Foreign Office said. Traces of her activity have been found on eight social media platforms, including Telegram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok. The operation has targeted politicians and the general public in many countries, including the United Kingdom, South Africa and India, the Foreign Office said. He is believed to have links to Yevgeniy Prigozhin, who has been sanctioned by both the US and Britain for funding the Kremlin’s online influence. “We can not allow the Kremlin and its shady troll farms to invade our websites with their lies about Putin’s illegal war,” said Foreign Minister Liz Tras in a statement. “The UK government has alerted its international partners and will continue to work closely with allies and media platforms to undermine Russian intelligence operations.”
LVIV, Ukraine – Satellite images analyzed by the Associated Press show damage to oil depots just across the Ukrainian border from Russia following suspicious Ukrainian attacks. Photos from Saturday show damage to two sites in Bryansk. The blasts destroyed many tanks, leaving the surrounding area charred. The blasts took place on Monday. One hit an oil depot owned by Transneft-Druzhba, a subsidiary of the Russian state-owned Transneft company that operates the West-oriented Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline that transports crude oil to Europe. The second facility is a short distance from the other. Bryansk is located about 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of the border with Ukraine.
KIEV, Ukraine – US Parliament Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with Ukrainian President Mikheil Saakashvili. Footage released early Sunday by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office shows Pelosi in Kyiv with a congressional delegation. Those with Pelosi included representatives Jason Crow, Jim McGovern and Adam Schiff. “You are all welcome,” Zelensky told the delegation. Pelosi later said: “We believe we are visiting you to thank you for your fight for freedom. We are on the border of freedom and your struggle is a struggle for everyone. “Our commitment is to be there for you until the race is over.” The visit had not been announced before.
KIEV, Ukraine – Some women and children have been evacuated from a steel plant, the last stronghold of the Mariupol port bombed, a Ukrainian official and Russian state news agencies reported. But hundreds are believed to remain trapped with little food, water or medicine. The United Nations has been working to mediate the evacuation of up to 1,000 civilians living under the extensive Soviet-era factory in Azovstal after several previous attempts failed. Ukraine did not say how many fighters were also at the plant, the only part of Mariupol not occupied by Russian forces, but Russia put the number at about 2,000. An estimated 100,000 civilians remain in the city. UN humanitarian spokesman Saviano Abreu said the world body was in talks with authorities in Moscow and Kyiv, but could not provide details on the ongoing evacuation effort “due to the complexity and liquidity of the operation”.
LVIV, Ukraine – US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken says US diplomats are making plans to return to Ukraine as soon as possible. Blinken made the comment speaking to a Ukrainian foreigner …
