3:41 am: The Russian offensive has resumed in Mariupol
The Russian army announced on Saturday that it had resumed the “offensive” to seize the strategic port of Mariupol. “Due to the reluctance of the Ukrainian side to influence the nationalists or extend the ceasefire, offensive operations have resumed since 6 p.m. Moscow time,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.
The evacuation of civilians was postponed due to multiple Russian ceasefire violations, according to Mariupol City Hall, while Moscow accused Ukrainian ‘nationalists’ of preventing civilians from leaving and using the truce to consolidate their defenses.
The capture of this city of some 450,000 inhabitants, located on the Sea of Azov, would allow the junction between the Russian forces coming from annexed Crimea.