A member of the Ukrainian defense forces stands on patrol as civilian evacuations continue in the city on March 12, 2022 in Irpin, Ukraine.
Russia continues its assault on Ukraine's major cities, including the capital Kyiv, more than a week after lau The strike comes a day after Russia bombarded cities across Ukraine, pounding Mariupol in the south, shelling the outskirts of the capital, Kyiv, and thwarting the efforts of people trying to flee the violence.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also accused Russia of trying to create new "pseudo-republics" to break his country apart.
He called on Ukraine’s regions not to repeat the experience of two eastern areas where pro-Russian separatists began fighting Ukrainian forces in 2014.As Russian units fanned out to prepare for an assault on Ukraine's capital of Kyiv, Zelenskyy said Russia would need to carpet-bomb the city and kill its residents to take it.Now in its third week, the war has forced more than 2.5 million people to flee Ukraine.Here are some key things to know about the conflict:Russian shelling of this Ukrainian port city of 430,000 has been relentless, and the mayor's office says more than 1,500 have died since the siege began.
Russian forces hammered the city's downtown on Saturday as residents hid.Repeated attempts to bring food to Mariupol and evacuate civilians have been canceled due to ongoing Russian fire.