Mariupol and Kharkov in ruins, Russians deploy controversial cluster bomb

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Mariupol and Kharkov in ruins

Russian troops continue their heavy bombing raids on Ukrainian cities on Thursday. Even during the second round of peace talks, Russia did not stop the offensive. Ukraine and Russia did reach an initial agreement in those talks. 

According to the Netherlands, the United States and Amnesty International, Russia is deploying controversial cluster bombs, which have led to destruction, especially in Kharkov.

 In Ukraine’s second largest city, but also in the port city of Mariupol, the resistance threatens to be defeated.

Developments follow each other in quick succession. We therefore list the most recent events for you several times a day. Subscribe to the ‘Ukraine update’ tag to be notified when we post such an overview again.

Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren , Amnesty and US UN Ambassador Bathsheba Nell Crocker all see evidence that Russia is deploying cluster bombs. Those bombs spread explosives over a large area.

The ammunition is banned in more than a hundred countries by the Cluster Munitions Treaty, which was established in 2008. Russia and Ukraine have not signed that treaty, so the use of those weapons is not prohibited for both parties in all cases. But the damage is extensive, according to massively shared images.

French President Emmanuel Macron said “the worst is yet to come”. He called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

Putin is said to have said again that he wants to conquer all of Ukraine. Macron accused him of lying and stressed that Putin is making a huge mistake with the invasion. “You are fooling yourself into thinking that the government can just be overthrown,” Macron is quoted as saying.

Mariupol and Kharkov in ruins, Russians deploy controversial cluster bomb

The Ukrainian resistance is currently under pressure, especially in Kharkov and Mariupol. Many Russian troops are said to have reached the outer edge of Kharkov, Ukraine’s second largest city with 1.4 million inhabitants.

The northeastern city has been the target of very heavy bombardments for days. Ukrainian authorities have already reported more than 100 civilian casualties in the city.

Dozens of new deaths were also reported on Thursday, but those claims have not yet been confirmed by independent parties. Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov refuses to surrender.

The loss of Kharkov would be another major blow to the resistance, after the port city of Kherson had already been taken earlier in the day. However, the United States is not so sure. “There is still fighting in the streets,” US officials say.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted on Thursday that some villages have been lost to the Russians, but did not say which villages were involved.

At least 22 people have been killed in airstrikes on the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv. The Russian air raids targeted schools and homes. Chernihiv is located northeast of the capital Kiev, not far from the borders with Russia and Belarus.

Mariupol and Kharkov in ruins, Russians deploy controversial cluster bomb

The situation in Mariupol is also critical. The city has been surrounded by Russian troops for more than a day and the city is said to be so isolated that civilians can no longer flee, Reuters news agency reported .

The southern port city is also still without water and electricity. According to the city council, a ceasefire is necessary to carry out repairs. Dozens of people were killed in clashes on Thursday.

The delegations of Ukraine and Russia have reached some agreements in the second round of peace negotiations after more than three hours of negotiations . For example, both parties want to commit to ceasefires in the event of evacuation attempts. A third meeting will also be scheduled as soon as possible.

“It is not the outcome we hoped for,” said a Ukrainian negotiator. Zelensky had previously committed to a total ceasefire. It is not clear when the parties will return to the table.

Zelensky is also demanding additional help from the West. He warns that “if Ukraine falls, the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will be next.” The mayor of Kiev, Wladimir Klitschko , again called for Ukrainian airspace to be closed to stop bombing. “We will not give up, but free airspace is necessary for Kiev,” said Klitschko.

The US does not want to support that measure, because it would require military deployment. That could lead to a much wider war with Russia. Washington and Kiev are discussing how to improve anti-aircraft defenses in Ukraine.

According to the Americans, 480 rocket attacks have now been carried out, the majority of which were fired from Ukrainian territory. According to the US, the Russians use mobile launch systems, which are increasingly entering Ukraine. Also, 90 percent of the initially assembled Russian troops are now said to be in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the European Union has decided to grant special status to Ukrainian refugees. The more than one million Ukrainians who have already fled the country are therefore immediately entitled to shelter, financial support and medical care. 

They are also allowed to work and their children can go to school.

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