Ukraine's Mariupol Rejects Russian Demand for Surrender
2022-03-22
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1Ukrainian officials rejected a Russian demand that their forces in Mariupol surrender Monday in exchange for safe passage out of the port city.
2Russia has intensified its efforts to force the surrender of Mariupol.
3But the Russian ground offensive in other parts of Ukraine has failed to move forward.
4Western officials and experts say the conflict is turning into a war of attrition, with Russia bombarding cities.
5In the capital Kyiv, a shopping center in the Podil neighborhood near the city center was a smoking ruin after being hit late Sunday.
6The shelling killed eight people, said emergency officials.
7Ukrainian officials also said Russia shelled a chemical production center in northeastern Ukraine, sending toxic ammonia into the air.
8Russian forces also hit a military training base in the west with cruise missiles.
9The surrounded southern city of Mariupol has seen some of the worst horrors of the war.
10It has been under Russian attack for more than three weeks.
11Ukrainian and Western officials have called the Russian attacks on the city a war crime.
12Russia offered to open the city so people could escape in exchange for surrender.
13Hours before the offer came, Ukrainian officials said an art school where some 400 people were taking shelter was hit by an airstrike.
14"They are under the rubble, and we don't know how many of them have survived," Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
15Russian Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev had offered two escape paths - one heading east toward Russia, the other west to other parts of Ukraine - in return for Mariupol's surrender.
16He did not say what Russia would do if the offer was rejected.
17The Russian Ministry of Defense said officials in Mariupol could face a military tribunal if they sided with what it described as "bandits," the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported.
18A tribunal is a person or group given the power to serve as a court.
19Ukrainian officials rejected the proposal before Russia's deadline.
20"There can be no talk of any surrender, laying down of arms," Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk told Ukrainian Pravda.
21The strike on the art school was the second time in less than a week that officials reported an attack on a public building where Mariupol residents had taken shelter.
22On Wednesday, an airstrike destroyed a theater where more than 1,000 people were believed to be sheltering.
23Mariupol officials said at least 2,300 people have died in the siege, with some placed in mass burials.
24City officials and aid groups said Russian bombardment has cut off Mariupol's electricity, water and food supplies.
25It also has cut off its communications with the outside world.
26"What's happening in Mariupol is a massive war crime," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said.
27Mariupol had a population of about 430,000 before the war.
28About 25 percent were believed to have left in the opening days of the war.
29Tens of thousands fled over the past week through a humanitarian escape path.
30The United Nations said Russia's invasion has driven nearly 3.4 million people from Ukraine.
31The U.N. has confirmed over 900 civilian deaths but said the real number is probably much higher.
32There are many estimates of the number of Russian deaths, but most are in the low thousands.
33Some who were able to escape Mariupol met relatives as they arrived by train Sunday in Lviv in western Ukraine.
34"Battles took place over every street. Every house became a target," said Olga Nikitina, who met her brother as she got off the train.
35Mariupol is an important target for Russia.
36Its capture would let Russian forces in southern and eastern Ukraine join together.
37It would also help Russia establish a land bridge to Crimea, which was taken from Ukraine in 2014.
38More than three weeks into the invasion, the two sides seem to be trying to wear each other down, experts said.
39Russian forces continue to launch long-range missiles at cities and military bases as Ukrainian forces carry out hit-and-run attacks.
40Talks between Russia and Ukraine have continued by video link.
41But they have failed to produce agreement.
42Russia is demanding Ukraine disarm and declare itself neutral.
43Ukraine is saying Russian forces must withdraw from the whole country.
44U.S. President Joe Biden was expected to talk Monday with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Britain about the war.
45The Russian Foreign Ministry warned that relations with the U.S. are nearing "a breach."
46Putin is reportedly angry that Biden called him a "war criminal."
47I'm Susan Shand.
1Ukrainian officials rejected a Russian demand that their forces in Mariupol surrender Monday in exchange for safe passage out of the port city. 2Russia has intensified its efforts to force the surrender of Mariupol. But the Russian ground offensive in other parts of Ukraine has failed to move forward. Western officials and experts say the conflict is turning into a war of attrition, with Russia bombarding cities. 3In the capital Kyiv, a shopping center in the Podil neighborhood near the city center was a smoking ruin after being hit late Sunday. The shelling killed eight people, said emergency officials. 4Ukrainian officials also said Russia shelled a chemical production center in northeastern Ukraine, sending toxic ammonia into the air. Russian forces also hit a military training base in the west with cruise missiles. 5The surrounded southern city of Mariupol has seen some of the worst horrors of the war. It has been under Russian attack for more than three weeks. Ukrainian and Western officials have called the Russian attacks on the city a war crime. 6Russia offered to open the city so people could escape in exchange for surrender. Hours before the offer came, Ukrainian officials said an art school where some 400 people were taking shelter was hit by an airstrike. 7"They are under the rubble, and we don't know how many of them have survived," Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. 8Russian Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev had offered two escape paths - one heading east toward Russia, the other west to other parts of Ukraine - in return for Mariupol's surrender. He did not say what Russia would do if the offer was rejected. 9The Russian Ministry of Defense said officials in Mariupol could face a military tribunal if they sided with what it described as "bandits," the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported. 10A tribunal is a person or group given the power to serve as a court. 11Ukrainian officials rejected the proposal before Russia's deadline. 12"There can be no talk of any surrender, laying down of arms," Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk told Ukrainian Pravda. 13The strike on the art school was the second time in less than a week that officials reported an attack on a public building where Mariupol residents had taken shelter. On Wednesday, an airstrike destroyed a theater where more than 1,000 people were believed to be sheltering. 14Mariupol officials said at least 2,300 people have died in the siege, with some placed in mass burials. 15City officials and aid groups said Russian bombardment has cut off Mariupol's electricity, water and food supplies. It also has cut off its communications with the outside world. 16"What's happening in Mariupol is a massive war crime," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. 17Mariupol had a population of about 430,000 before the war. About 25 percent were believed to have left in the opening days of the war. Tens of thousands fled over the past week through a humanitarian escape path. 18The United Nations said Russia's invasion has driven nearly 3.4 million people from Ukraine. The U.N. has confirmed over 900 civilian deaths but said the real number is probably much higher. There are many estimates of the number of Russian deaths, but most are in the low thousands. 19Some who were able to escape Mariupol met relatives as they arrived by train Sunday in Lviv in western Ukraine. 20"Battles took place over every street. Every house became a target," said Olga Nikitina, who met her brother as she got off the train. 21Mariupol is an important target for Russia. Its capture would let Russian forces in southern and eastern Ukraine join together. It would also help Russia establish a land bridge to Crimea, which was taken from Ukraine in 2014. 22More than three weeks into the invasion, the two sides seem to be trying to wear each other down, experts said. Russian forces continue to launch long-range missiles at cities and military bases as Ukrainian forces carry out hit-and-run attacks. 23Talks between Russia and Ukraine have continued by video link. But they have failed to produce agreement. Russia is demanding Ukraine disarm and declare itself neutral. Ukraine is saying Russian forces must withdraw from the whole country. 24U.S. President Joe Biden was expected to talk Monday with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Britain about the war. 25The Russian Foreign Ministry warned that relations with the U.S. are nearing "a breach." Putin is reportedly angry that Biden called him a "war criminal." 26I'm Susan Shand. 27The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. 28__________________________________________________________________ 29Words in This Story 30attrition - n. the act or process of weakening and gradually defeating an enemy through constant attacks and continued pressure over a long period of time 31toxic - adj. containing poisonous substances 32rubble - n. broken pieces of stone, or brick from walls or buildings that have fallen 33bandit - n. a criminal who attacks and steals from travelers and who is often a member of a group of criminals 34siege - n. a situation in which soldiers or police officers surround a city or building in order to try to take control of it 35We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page.