In photos: Inside Mariupol as Russian forces close in
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Damaged vehicles and buildings in Mariupol, southeastern Ukraine, on April 17. The city's mayor estimates over 10,000 people have died during Russian forces' siege of the city. Photo: Leon Klein/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Ukrainian forces on Sunday resisted demands by Russia's Defense Ministry to "lay down their arms and surrender" Mariupol or face being "eliminated."
The big picture: Mariupol has endured heavy shelling and Russian forces have been encircling the key strategic port city for weeks. Russian officials claim they now control Mariupol's urban areas. But Ukraine Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Sunday Mariupol "has not fallen" and Ukrainian troops "will fight to the end."
