KYIV, March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian forces inched towards Kyiv and pounded civilian areas in other Ukrainian cities Friday, drawing warnings of”unimaginable tragedy” as the United States and the EU moved to tighten the
economic noose around the Kremlin.
Sixteen days after Moscow shocked the world by invading Ukraine, the United Nations and others said it may be committing war crimes in cities such as Mariupol, which for days now has been besieged by Vladimir Putin’s forces.
On Friday officials in the southern port said more than 1,500 people had been killed during 12 days of attacks.
Survivors have been trying to flee Russian bombardment in a freezing city left without water or heating, and running out of food. The situation is “desperate,” a Doctors Without Borders official said.
“Hundreds of thousands of people… are for all intents and purposes besieged,” Stephen Cornish, one of those heading the medical charity’s Ukraine operation, said.
“Sieges are a medieval practice that have been outlawed by the modern rules of war for good reason.”
As Russia widens its bombardment and talks between Moscow and Kyiv seemingly go nowhere, Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky’s pleas for NATO to intervene have grown increasingly desperate.
US President Joe Biden on Friday again ruled out direct action against nuclear-armed Russia, warning that it would lead to “World War III.”
Instead Washington added more layers of sanctions to those already crippling Russia’s economy, this time ending normal trade relations and announcing a ban on signature Russian goods vodka, seafood and diamonds.
The United States and the European Union also suspended the export of their luxury goods to Russia.
The attacks on civilians prompted a new flurry of warnings from the Hague and the United Nations Friday that Russia is committing war crimes.
Meanwhile the Kremlin is slowly surrounding Kyiv, with Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak calling it a “city under siege”.
He tweeted that it was “ready to fight”, with checkpoints prepared and supply lines in place, adding: “Kyiv will stand until the end”.
The Ukrainian military has said Russia is trying to take out Kyiv’s defences to the north and west, where suburbs including Irpin and Bucha have already endured days of heavy bombardment.
Russian armoured vehicles are also advancing on the capital’s northeast.
As the slow but steady advance continues, so has the tide of refugees.
Around 100,000 people have been able to leave the northeastern city of Sumy, the eastern city of Izyum, and areas northwest of Kyiv in the last two days, Ukrainian officials said.
Foreign combatants have already entered the Ukrainian conflict on both sides, and on Friday the Kremlin ramped up efforts to bring in reinforcements, particularly from Syria.
In southern Ukraine, Russian soldiers abducted the mayor of Melitopol, which Zelensky said was a “sign of weakness” and a “crime against democracy”. — NNN-AGENCIES
