MARIUPOL, Ukraine (Washington Insider Magazine) – On Thursday, Russian forces continued their shelling on Mariupol, while satellite images appeared to reveal that a massive convoy stuck outside of Kyiv had separated and fanned out into villages and woods around the Ukrainian capital, with artillery rounds relocated into firing positions.
An airstrike in Mariupol the day before had killed 3 persons at a maternity hospital, drawing international outrage. The bombing was described as a war crime by Ukrainian and Western officials. Russian unwillingness to allow rescue operations from the port city, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, amounted to “outright terror.”
According to a direct source familiar with the situation who asked to remain anonymous to preview the announcement, US President Biden intended to reveal Friday that the European Union, the US, and the G-7 nations would move to renounce Russia’s “most favored nation” trade status. If Russia loses its trading status, taxes on Russian imports will be levied, further isolating the Russian economy.
Meanwhile, according to ABC NEWS, the highest-level discussions held since the conflict started 2 weeks ago generated no advancement, the number of refugees fleeing violence surpassed 2.3 million, and Kyiv prepared for an onslaught, with its mayor showing that the capital had become a fortress guarded by armed civilians.
Maxar Technologies claimed satellite images revealed a 40-mile (64-kilometer) convoy of troops, tanks, and artillery had broken up and been redeployed. Armored vehicles were spotted in communities north of the city, near the Antonov Airport. According to Maxar, some of the trucks have gone into the woods, where towed howitzers are ready to fire.
The caravan had gathered just outside of the city last week, but rumors of food and gasoline shortages seemed to have slowed its progress. Anti-tank missiles were also fired at the convoy, according to US sources.
Some vehicles were spotted driving off the road towards the forest line in recent days, according to a US defense source who spoke on the request to remain anonymous, but the source could not verify if the convoy had scattered.
The situation in Mariupol, a 430,000-strong southern seaport, was becoming increasingly grave as inhabitants stranded within the city scooped for food and gasoline. According to Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk, at least 1,300 people have perished in the freezing city’s 10-day siege.
Many residents do not have heating or cell service, and many do not have access to electricity. Temperatures are usually below zero at night and just above freezing during the day. In mass graves, corpses are being buried. Burned-out automobiles, glass shards, and splintered trees litter the streets.
According to Sacha Volkov, a local Red Cross representative, food stores and drugstores were empty days ago by individuals breaking in to collect supplies. According to Volkov, there is a black market for vegetables, meat is limited, and people steal fuel from automobiles.
Bomb shelters are hard to come by, with children and women being housed in basements.
In all, 100,000 individuals have been rescued from 7 cities in the nation’s center and north, along with the Kyiv suburbs, during the last 2 days, according to Zelenskyy.
Russian authorities, according to Zelenskyy, will suffer economic consequences as a result of the invasion. International sanctions have already had a significant impact, prompting the ruble to plummet, foreign companies to flee, and prices to skyrocket.
Russian President Vladimir Putin downplayed such speculation, claiming that his country had already endured sanctions.
