The Latest on the War in Ukraine - Day 58

Russia continues to capture villages in the eastern Donetsk region. But claims of Mariupol victory are being dismissed by Ukraine.

• Russian assault in the eastern Ukrainian Donbas region continues. While in Mariupol, disturbing news about the discovery of mass graves has come to light.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Mariupol has been “liberated” despite the Russian defense minister’s own admission that the Russian military is still fighting Ukrainian forces there.
• The Parliaments of Estonia and Latvia have unanimously voted to state that the killings of civilians in parts of Ukraine occupied by Russian forces are acts of genocide.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that around 120,000 civilians in Mariupol have been blocked from leaving. Ukrainian authorities apologized to its residents for failed evacuation efforts.
• Even as the US promises another $800 million military assistance package to Ukraine, Germany is facing flak for not sending across heavy military artillery to Ukraine.
• In Finland, the debates around the possibility of joining NATO will get a definitive result in the next few weeks. The opinion polls suggest the majority of Finns are in favor of NATO membership.