The latest on the Russia–Ukraine crisis, April 20. Click here for updates from April 19.
Russia Says Mariupol Captured; Putin Opts to Blockade, Not Storm Mariupol Steel Plant
Russian forces have fully captured the key Donbass Black Sea port-city of Mariupol, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. However, more than 2,000 Ukrainian fightersstill remain entrenched at the Azovstal steel plant in the city, he added.
President Vladimir Putin called off plans for the Russian military to storm the sprawling Azovstal steel plant in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol and said on Thursday he wanted Ukrainian forces there to be hermetically sealed in instead.
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