Russia Will Likely Capture Mariupol ‘In The Coming Week,’ Think Tank Says

Topline

Russian forces have driven Ukrainian defenders out of most parts of Mariupol and could fully capture the besieged port city “in the coming week,” the Institute for the Study of War said Sunday, following weeks of brutal warfare that city officials claim has left thousands of civilians dead.

Key Facts

Key Background

After a weeks-long siege, the Russian Ministry of Defense offered an ultimatum to the remaining Ukrainian forces in Mariupol Sunday morning, demanding they surrender or face destruction. Russia’s deadline passed later that morning without a surrender, and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told ABC’s This Week on Sunday the country’s forces will “will fight to the end.” Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko claimed more than 10,000 civilians had died during the siege as of Monday, and the death toll could eventually surpass 20,000, though these figures have not been verified. The city has struggled to evacuate civilians, and Russian forces have allegedly struck civilian shelters during their month-long assault.

Crucial Quote

“The situation in Mariupol is both dire militarily and heartbreaking. The city doesn’t exist anymore,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told CBS’ Face the Nation on Sunday.