Russia continues attacks on Mariupol, Odesa

Ukraine’s defense ministry said Tuesday that Russian forces backed by artillery and tanks have engaged in “storming operations” on the Azovstal steel plant. Mariupol’s final defenders remain holed up in the plant, their last stronghold in the southern city. Ukrainian forces also said at least one person died and five others were injured when seven Russian missiles, including hypersonic missiles, struck the port city of Odesa on Monday night.

How are other nations helping? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked the international community to help end Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s ports to prevent a global food crisis. Charles Michel, president of the European Council, described silos full of wheat and corn blocked from export during his Monday visit to the Black Sea port of Odesa. The United States on Monday said it will suspend 25 percent of import taxes on Ukraine’s steel to support the country’s economy. President Joe Biden also signed the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022, a reboot of a World War II program that helped speed up military equipment shipments to Britain and its allies.

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