Ukraine's port city of Mariupol under "blockade" by Russian troops
The situation in Ukraine continues to worsen and its strategic port city Mariupol now is under a "blockade" by the Russian troops. The information was shared by the city's mayor Vadim Boychenko on Saturday. Meanwhile, the US has said that Russia has fired over 500 missiles in the week since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, Ukrainian news outlet The Kyiv reported.
No food, water, electricity in Mariupol
Boychenko sought the establishment of a humanitarian corridor as the city has been cut off from electricity, food, water, heating and transport. "We are simply being destroyed...They want to wipe Mariupol and Mariupol residents off the face of the earth," he said in a televised appeal. Earlier, the mayor had said that Russian forces have destroyed bridges and trains to prevent residents from leaving.
NATO allowed bombing of Ukrainian towns, villages: Zelensky
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized NATO, saying it has given a green signal to bomb Ukrainian towns and villages. He also opposed NATO's refusal to declare Ukraine a no-fly zone, warning that it will give Russia a free hand as it intensifies air attacks. On Friday, NATO said that imposing a no-fly zone "could end in a full-fledged war in Europe."
Russia seizes nuclear plant
Russian forces have seized control of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the largest in Europe, hours after it had caught fire amid shelling, Ukrainian officials said. "Operational personnel are monitoring the condition of power unit," the regional state administration said on Friday. Ukraine said Russia had earlier attacked the nuclear plant, setting an adjacent training facility on fire. The fire has since been extinguished.
Facebook, Twitter blocked in Russia
In another news, Russia has blocked Facebook, accusing it of restricting access to Russian media on the platform. Several news reports have claimed that Twitter and YouTube have also been completely blocked in the country. Russian President Vladimir Putin also signed a bill into law that sets out jail terms of up to 15 years for spreading "fake news".
Air raid alert in Kyiv
According to Reuters, continuous explosions are being heard in the capital city of Kyiv. An air raid alert has been sounded in view of the possibility of a Russian airstrike in the city and residents have been asked to move to a shelter near them. Fighting has also erupted on the streets of the city of Sumy.
