While fierce battles are ongoing in Mariupol and cities in Eastern Ukraine, a senior Pentagon official announced on Tuesday that the United States considers the current Russian activity in Eastern Ukraine as a precursor to a much larger attack in the country. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated that Russia is still adding to its military capabilities in preparation for the new attack, having deployed two additional tactical battalions in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of Russian battalions in the country to 78.
**"Largest Provider of Weapons to Ukraine"**
He also added that 75% of the forces that Russia has prepared for the war are ready for the new battle, noting that the fall of Mariupol or Donbas is not yet certain, as violent clashes continue in the cities of Kherson and Mykolaiv. He mentioned that the U.S. is now the largest provider of weapons to Ukraine, pointing out that bad weather in Ukraine prevents the tracking of all missiles launched by Russia.
Meanwhile, street fighting continues in the coastal city of Mariupol, which has been besieged by Russian forces since early March, according to the regional governor in an interview with CNN on Tuesday.
**Street Warfare in Mariupol**
Donetsk Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko stated, "The fighting continues in Mariupol. It is street fighting not only with light weapons but also tank battles in the streets of the city." He added that the areas where Ukrainian fighters are concentrated—starting with the Azovstal steel plant—are "under heavy bombardment, but defenses remain resilient." He noted, "In some neighborhoods, street fighting continues," without revealing further details, emphasizing that "it cannot be said that the Russians control it."
**Surrender of More than a Thousand Ukrainian Soldiers**
Additionally, over a thousand Ukrainian soldiers surrendered last week, but hundreds more, according to Russian-backed separatists, are still stationed at the massive Azovstal plant, where they are resisting fiercely. The Mariupol City Council stated on Telegram on Tuesday that "at least a thousand civilians, mostly women, children, and the elderly" are trapped in underground shelters at the plant.
**Deadline Not Responded to by Ukraine**
For its part, Russia on Tuesday called on Ukrainian fighters to "lay down their arms immediately" and cease their "meaningless resistance," following 24 hours of announcing a new deadline that went unresponded. The capture of Mariupol would allow Russia to establish a land corridor between the Crimea peninsula, which it annexed in 2014, and the Moscow-backed separatist regions in Eastern Ukraine.
