Natalia Zinets and Alessandra Prentice

ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (Reuters ) – Russia’s invasion in Ukraine destroyed hundreds of hospitals, other medical establishments, and left doctors with no drugs or ability to treat cancer.

Zelenskiy stated that many areas in the eastern and southern Ukraine were lacking basic antibiotics, which is a major problem on all fronts.

Zelenskiy stated that Russian forces have damaged or destroyed nearly 400 hospitals and maternity wards in the last 24 hours.

According to him, the Russian forces had made it a catastrophe in areas they occupied.

This amounts to an absolute lack of treatment for patients with cancer. You will experience extreme hardships or lack of insulin. It makes it difficult to do surgery. Even more, it means that there are not enough antibiotics.

A maternity hospital in Mariupol was almost destroyed during one of the worst acts of war. Russia claims that photographs of the attack were faked and claimed the site was being used by armoured Ukrainian groups.

Kremlin claims it does not target civilians but only strategic and military locations. Every day, Ukraine is reporting civilian casualties due to Russian bombardment and fighting. The country accuses Russia with war crimes. Russia denied the accusations.

Pavlo Kyrylenko the governor of Donetsk said that 25 people were wounded in heavy shelling at Kramatorsk. Kramatorsk was also home to a bombing of a railway station, which resulted in more than 50 deaths. The shelling had caused damage to 32 homes, he stated.

Reuters was unable to verify the authenticity of battlefield reports from Russia or Ukraine immediately.

Russia refers to its actions against Ukraine as “special operation”, a move that was undertaken in order to arm Ukraine and prevent it being overthrown by fascists. The West and Ukraine both claim that the claims of fascists are unfounded and that this war was an unprovoked aggression. Since the invasion, more than 5,000,000 Ukrainians fled to other countries.

After failing to seize the capital Kyiv, Russia turned on its most powerful firepower against Ukraine’s East and South. This new front is designed to limit Ukraine’s access the Black Sea. It is vital to its metal and grain exports. The Russian-controlled territories in the east are linked to Crimea.

‘BLOODY’ BATTLE FOR MARIUPOL

Mariupol is home to 200 civilians. The rest are fighting for their freedom.

Heavy explosions rocked steelworks on Thursday after Russian forces took control of Ukraine’s last stronghold. UN officials rushed to rescue civilians.

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia said that Russia would provide safe passage to civilians. However, he reiterated the need for Ukrainian forces within to disarm.

Putin declared victory against Mariupol, 21 April. He ordered his troops to close the Soviet-era facility and not enter its underground tunnels network.

Russia’s refusal to defend Azovstal in Ukraine is a sign of Russia’s unwillingness to capture major cities during the 10-week-old conflict that has united Western countries in arming Kyiv, and punishing Moscow by sanctions.

Fights in Ukraine with Russian troops at Azovstal have seen the Ukrainian rebels clinging on, desperate for help.

A Ukrainian soldier claimed that he was hiding in Azovstal and had accused Russian forces, despite Moscow’s earlier promise to stop military activity so civilian evacuations could be permitted.

Captain Sviatoslav Palmar, commander of Ukraine’s Azov Regiment said that heavy and bloody fighting was going on. The Russians failed to keep their promise of a ceasefire, yet again. Reuters was unable to independently confirm his location or account.

Ukrainian accusations that Russian troops had stormed the plant during recent days are refuted by The Kremlin.

Three explosions struck different sections of the complex. This was revealed by the Azov Regiment in Ukraine. The plant’s aerial footage was released on Thursday.

Reuters confirmed the location of the footage by matching satellite images with buildings, but could not determine the date the video was filmed.

Russia’s military said it would halt its operations for the next 2 days so that civilians could leave. Moscow claimed that humanitarian corridors had been set up from the plant.

Iryna Vereshchuk, the Ukrainian deputy prime minister, stated on Thursday that Mariupol would be evacuated on Friday at 1200 GMT (0900 GMT).

MORE SANCTIONS LOOOM

Washington’s and its European allies have imposed severe sanctions on Russia, causing a $1.8 trillion deficit in the economy. However, billions worth of military assistance has been able to stop an invasion by Ukraine.

Josep Borrell, EU foreign policy chief, said that the European Union’s countries were “almost there”, in reaching an agreement on the new sanctions package against Russia. This includes an oil embargo.

According to Russia’s Kremlin, Russia is weighing its responses to the EU plan.

Ukrainian officials warn that Russia may intensify its military offensive prior to May 9, the anniversary of Russia’s victory against Nazi Germany in World War Two.