Russia has set a new deadline for the surrender of Ukrainian troops still in Mariupol. Ukrainian military personnel and hundreds of civilians are reportedly still holed up in the Azovstal steel complex and refusing to surrender.
Ukrainian offices said those left inside the steel mill are likely facing their “final days” as most are still committed to fighting the Russians. As Russia continues its shelling of the eastern Donbas area, Ukrainian officials continue to demand more arms and faster delivery from foreign countries.
Meanwhile, sources with knowledge of the matter said that the U.S. is finalizing a big new arms package for Ukraine. President Joe Biden will reportedly meet with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, all eight Joint Chiefs of Staff members, and U.S. combatant commanders within the week to discuss the support package.
The alleged White House meeting comes as Russia continues its bloody campaign in Ukraine’s eastern and southern regions. The U.S. and its allies have also continued their support by providing additional armaments to the front lines.
Since Russia invaded its former Soviet neighbor on February 24, the U.N. has verified at least 2,224 civilian fatalities and 2,897 wounded in Ukraine. In its latest report, the U.N. said that of those that died, 173 were children – 42 young girls, 61 boys, and 70 others whose gender were not confirmed.
The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights stated on Monday that the death toll in Ukraine is likely to be higher owing to delayed reporting caused by the ongoing conflict. The U.N. said most of those that died were casualties of Russia’s shelling from its heavy artillery, missiles, and rocket launch systems.