Russian promise and 5 million refugees in Mariupol on the 61st day of occupation

This Monday (25), the 61st day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russia has once again promised a ceasefire in Mariupol for the withdrawal of civilians from the Azovstal metallurgical plant, where Ukrainian resistance is intensifying. On the Ukrainian side, the authorities refused to open humanitarian corridors.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense claims that the Russians are planning to use chemical weapons against the people who still resist at the Azovstal plant. The country is putting pressure on the UN (United Nations) in the negotiations of the corridors and also in securing the safety of civilians.

Russia received multiple ultimatums for Mariupol’s surrender, which were rejected by the Ukrainians.

According to the UN, it is the worst refugee crisis in Europe since the end of the Second World War. The balance released today by the UNHCR (United Nations High Commission) estimates 5.2 million Ukrainian refugees since the start of the war. At least 20,000 people have left the country in the last 24 hours alone, according to the agency.

The most sought-after country for refugees has been Poland, which has so far hosted nearly 3 million Ukrainians. Romania, Moldova, Hungary and Slovakia are other countries that have massively received civilians fleeing the war.

foreign aid

Faced with the United States’ (US) announcement that it will send new military aid worth $700,000 (R$3.4 million), this time to Ukraine, Russia said it found American aid “unacceptable”.

Anatoly Antonov, the Russian Ambassador to the United States, said, “When the United States puts arms on Ukraine, we emphasize the unacceptable nature of this situation and demand an end to this practice.”

American broadcaster Sky News estimates that since the beginning of the conflict, the US has already sent R$3.7 billion (R$18 billion) to Ukraine.

Other countries also announced aid to the Ukrainian government. Poland said it was sending tanks to the country. The UK has already announced that it will send tanks of anti-aircraft missiles.

Attacks and bombings

There is evidence that Ukrainian women were raped before they were killed by Russian soldiers, forensic doctors told The Guardian. The publication claims that dozens of autopsies were carried out on residents of the cities of Bucha, Irpin and Borodianka.

Faced with the continuation of the conflict between the countries, the Municipality of Kyiv announced that it will remove the Friendship Arch, a statue representing the friendship between Russia and Ukraine, from the city today.

Further attacks and bombings were recorded this Monday in both Russia and Ukraine:

• At least five people were killed and 18 injured in five attacks on train stations outside of Lviv;
• According to Ukrainian officials, the attacks on the stations affected a gas pipeline that cut off supplies to some towns in the region;
• Three people were killed in the bombings in the village of Bezruky in the Kharkiv region;
• The Kyiv Independent newspaper published the story of a mother killed in Odessa with her 3-month-old daughter;
• On the Russian side, Moscow is investigating the causes of a fire at an oil storage facility in Byransk, a Russian city located 154 km from the Ukrainian border.