Russia blocks aid entry into Mariupol

Russian forces seized a humanitarian convoy hauling food and other supplies into the besieged city of Mariupol. In his nightly address on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 15 aid workers and drivers were traveling along an approved route near Mangush, 12 miles southwest of Mariupol. Despite the persistent shelling, authorities evacuated about 7,000 people from the city on Tuesday. Zelenskyy estimated about 100,000 civilians remain in Mariupol, cut off from food, water, and medical support.

What’s happening in other cities? Ukrainian forces stepped up their offensive in the capital city of Kyiv, where they recaptured the suburban city of Makariv but partially lost control of three other northwest suburbs. Authorities said Russian shelling overnight and early Wednesday damaged buildings in two Kyiv districts. In the encircled city of Chernihiv, the region’s governor said Russian bombing destroyed a bridge used to evacuate civilians and deliver humanitarian aid. U.S. President Joe Biden will seek more Western sanctions on Russia as he travels to Europe this week. More than 3.5 million Ukrainians have now fled the country since Russia’s invasion began.

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