It is day 53 of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine. In the territory, military operations continue. The Russian Army advances in its plan to take control of Donbas, in eastern Ukraine.
In the political arena, the European Commission (EC) announced the delivery of an additional 50 million euros for humanitarian projects in Ukraine and Moldova, the country that has received most of the refugees.
According to the most recent figure from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 4.8 million Ukrainians have left the country and more than 7.1 million have become internally displaced by the conflict.
Russia Says Ukraine Forbids Military Besieged In Mariupol To Surrender; April 17, 6:15 a.m.
The Russian military command declared this Sunday that the Ukrainian authorities have prohibited the surrender of their besieged military at the Azovstal steel plant in the port city of Mariupol, in eastern Ukraine, to whom Russia has promised to spare their lives if they lay down their arms.
The spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defense, Igor Konashénkov, indicated that, according to the statements of the Ukrainian military who have surrendered prisoners, the group besieged in the territory of Azovstal has in its ranks “up to 400 foreign mercenaries”.
“Most of them are citizens of European countries and also of Canada”, he added, to warn that “in case they continue to resist, they will all be annihilated”.
Last night Russia urged the Ukrainian military in the besieged city of Mariupol to cease hostilities and lay down their arms as of 06:00 Moscow time (03:00 GMT) and assured that their lives will be guaranteed.
The Ukrainian General Staff detects an advance of Russian troops in the east and Mariúpol; April 17, 6:00 a.m.
The Ukrainian General Staff reported this Sunday that the advance of Russian troops continues throughout the east of the countryincluding the port city of Mariupol, which Russia has urged to surrender.
“The enemy continues its air strikes on Mariupol, as well as on the rest of the Donetsk region,” Ukrainian military sources reported.
Defense sources affirmed, on the other hand, to have managed to repel successive air attacks on the capital, kyiv.
Ukraine reports that there will be no humanitarian corridors this Sunday; April 17, 6:00 a.m.
The Ukrainian authorities reported this Sunday that there will be no humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civiliansfor lack of agreement with the Russian side to guarantee the safety of these operations.
The decision was announced by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk, the Ukrinform news portal reports. The situation is especially dramatic in Mariupol, where some 100,000 inhabitants are still trapped following several hundred civilians were evacuated in recent days.
Russia Says Zelensky Is Trying To Buy Time To Ask NATO For Help; April 17, 5:50 a.m.
The president of the State Duma or Chamber of Deputies of Russia, Viacheslav Volodin, accused this Sunday the president of Ukraine, Volodímir Zelenski, of use the negotiations with Moscow to buy time and ask for military help from NATO.
“Zelensky has stated that Ukraine is ready to discuss with Russia its withdrawal from NATO and the status of Crimea, but only following military actions cease and Russian troops leave Ukrainian territory,” the Russian lawmaker wrote on his Twitter account. Telegram.
“The cause is obvious. It wants to buy time and simultaneously asks NATO for military help”, he stressed.
Attack on “Solidarity Kitchen” in Kharkov left four wounded; April 17, 5:30 a.m.
The impact of a Russian missile in a place used by the NGO “World Central Kitchen”, founded by the Spanish chef José Andrés, the so-called “solidarity kitchen” for Ukrainian civiliansleft four injured in the city of Kharkov, in the east of the country.
The director of the NGO, Nate Mook, reported the attack suffered this Saturday through his Twitter account, where he shows images of the place and concludes that “cooking is a heroic act of courage.”
The NGO founded by José Andrés is active in different parts of Ukraine practically since the beginning of the invasion and offers free hot food to displaced people and other civilians affected by the conflict.
The European Commission (EC) announces 50 million more in humanitarian aid for the war in Ukraine; April 17, 5:20 a.m.
The European Commission (EC) announced this Sunday the deployment of An additional €50 million to fund humanitarian projects in Ukraine and Moldova as a result of the war started by Russia, the institution reported in a statement.
In particular, 45 million euros will be allocated to Ukraine, while the remaining 5 million will be devoted to projects in Moldova, a border country that is hosting part of the Ukrainians fleeing their country due to the military conflict.
These new resources are part of the package of 1,000 million announced by the Community Executive at the “Stand Up For Ukraine” global donor conference that took place last week and brings the total humanitarian aid provided by the European Union (EU) since the start of the war to 143 million.
The pope asks for peace in Ukraine, dragged by a “cruel and senseless” war; April 17, 5:15 am
Pope Francis called for peace to come to Ukraine swept away “by a cruel and senseless war”, in its traditional Easter message, read from the balcony of the central loggia of the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica before the Urbi et Orbi blessing.
After celebrating Mass on Easter Sunday in Saint Peter’s Square before 50,000 people, the pope referred to the “incredulity” that we are experiencing with this “Easter of war”.
Francisco lamented that following the pandemic it was time to go out together hand in hand and, however, “we are showing that we still have in us the spirit of Cainwho looks at Abel not as a brother, but as a rival, and thinks regarding how to eliminate him”.
