Day 26 - Ukraine Invasion

Siege of Mariupol continues. Attack on Kyiv stalled. Russian mercenaries hunting Ukrainian leadership

March 21, 2022 - As I noted yesterday, an analysis from the Institute for the Study of War think tank in Washington, DC., assesses that Russian forces have failed in taking Kyiv and are digging into defensive positions around the capital and are emplacing minefields.

This assessment is backed by an intelligence update from Britain’s Ministry of Defence which said Russia’s assault on Kyiv was stalled.

Ukrainian sources also claim that Russian League/Wagner Group mercenaries are arriving in country to actively hunt the Ukrainian leadership.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is rejecting as Russian demands to surrender its forces in the strategic southern port city of Mariupol, where hundreds of thousands of civilians remain trapped in a city under siege by relentless Russian bombardment, to allow civilians to flee.

More than 300,000 people are believed to be trapped there without power or running water, supplies running out and aid blocked from entering.

Ninety percent of the city's buildings have been damaged or destroyed.