By Alessandra Prentice

ZAPORIZHZHIA in Ukraine (Reuters) – Around 60 people were believed dead following a blast at a school east of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin was preparing to host celebrations Monday celebrating the victory of Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in World War Two.

Serhiy Gaidai from Luhansk said Saturday that the Russian bomb set ablaze a Bilohorivka school, which was home to around 90 students.

It is unlikely that anyone will survive. Gaidai posted the following message on Telegram: “The aerial bomb exploded right in the middle of the building.” The school had approximately 90 pupils, and 27 people were rescued. About 60 people died, according to estimates.

Reuters couldn’t immediately verify the account. Moscow didn’t respond immediately to the request.

The Azov regiment’s deputy commander was trapped in Mariupol’s southern port. He appealed to the international community for help with the evacuation of wounded soldiers.

“We will fight until we die to resist the Russian occupiers,” said Captain Sviatoslav Palmar at an online news conference.

The fighting continued into its third month. Leaders of the Group of Seven industrial countries pledged to intensify Russia’s economic isolation as well as “elevate” a campaign against Kremlin-linked leaders.

G7 declared that it is committed to banning or phasing out Russian oil. It also denounced Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

The group released a statement saying that “His actions are shameful on Russia” and “the historic sacrifices made by its people”. This refers to Soviet Russia’s participation in the defeat of Nazi Germany 77 year ago.

Putin has repeatedly compared Ukraine’s war against the “Nazi-inspired” nationalists to what the Soviet Union had to face in 1941 when Adolf Hitler invaded.

Ukraine, its allies and Russia claim that Russia has launched unprovoked warfare.

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zeleskiy stated that the evil has returned and his country will prevail in a video address. It was filmed before charred Ukrainian apartments blocks showing footage from Russian missile strike.

“We can overcome all obstacles. We know that because all of our soldiers and our civilians are descendents from those who defeated Nazism,” Zelenskiy stated.

Putin will lead a parade of soldiers, tanks and rockets in Moscow’s Red Square. He could also make a speech about the future war.

MARIUPOL

According to the United Nations, more than 170 civilians were evacuated out of Mariupol, taking the total evacuations from Mariupol up to approximately 600.

Numerous people fled Zaporizhzhia (a Ukrainian-controlled town about 230km/140 miles northwest of Mariupol) and waited for permission to register at a designated car park.

Viktoria Andreyeva (46), a history teacher, said that there are still many people in Mariupol, but they can’t. She said she only reached Mariupol after having left her Mariupol home, which was bombed, in mid-April with her family.

She said, “The air feels different, free,” in an open tent, where she and other volunteers provided food, basics supplies, toys, and clothing to the refugees, most of whom were traveling with young children.

Moscow is focusing on Mariupol as a key component of its efforts to connect the Crimean Peninsula, which was seized in 2014 by Russia, with parts of eastern Luhansk, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions that were formerly controlled by Russia-backed separatists.

Telegram reported that Marat Khusnullin, Russian Deputy Prime minister, visited Mariupol this Sunday. It was the nation’s highest ranking government official to make it back after several weeks of Russian bombardment.

In a gesture of support, several Western officials including Jill Biden (first lady of the United States), Justin Trudeau (Canadian Prime Minister), and a head of Germany’s parliament, as well as the Norwegian foreign minister, arrived in Ukraine Sunday.

Bono from Irish rock band U2 and The Edge, their frontman performed a 40 minute concert at a Kyiv metro station. He praised Ukrainians for fighting for freedom.