Russian forces continued their slow advance toward the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv on Saturday and bombarded smaller metropolitan areas that have already endured consistent shelling during the war.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry announced at 3 a.m. EST that a mosque in Mariupol had been “shelled by Russian invaders” and officials have accused Russia of shelling a cancer hospital in the southern city of Mykolaiv, according to NBC.
The fighting continues amid claims by Russia that the United States was developing bioweapons in Ukraine, statements that American officials have called “laughable” and “false.”
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Linda Thomas-GreenfieldUS says Russia lying about chemical plot to set up attack Harris: ‘Any intentional attack or targeting of civilians is a war crime’ Live coverage – Russia strikes western Ukraine targets MORE slammed Russia over the claims, warning that her country has “serious concerns” that Russia may be planning to use chemical or biological agents itself.
Here is the latest on the Russia-Ukraine conflict:
Zelensky says more than 12,000 Russian troops have died
9:14 a.m.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address on Friday that more than 12,000 Russian soldiers have died during their invasion in Ukraine.
“The number of killed Russian servicemen on the territory of Ukraine already exceeds 12,000 people. 12,000. The number of wounded invaders is many times bigger. We did not invite any of them here,” Zelensky said.
“And we repeat to each of the invaders: You can still save yourself. At any moment. Just lay down your weapons and go home, just leave our land.”
Russia is likely to offer lower figures of the assessment. Earlier in March, Russia acknowledged that close to 500 of its soldiers had died during the conflict, while Zelensky said the figure around that point was close to 6,000.
—Caroline Vakil
Ukraine postal company to print ‘Russian warship, go f— yourself’ stamp
8:59 a.m.
Ukrainian officials announced on Saturday that the country’s state postal company would be printing a “Russian warship, go f— yourself” stamp.
“The postage stamp named ‘Russian warship, go f**k yourself!’ will appear in [Ukraine]. The sketch by artist Boris Groh received the most votes and will soon be published by Ukraine’s state postal company. #StandWithUkraine #StopRussianAgression,” First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzheppar tweeted.
The stamp appears to depict a Ukrainian soldier giving the middle finger to a Russian ship.
The stamp is meant to commemorate Snake Island border guards who supposedly used an expletive toward Russian forces while defending the area, according to The Washington Post.
—Caroline Vakil
Ukraine reports Russian shelling of cancer hospital
8:52 a.m.
Ukraine has alleged Russian forces shelled a cancer hospital and a few other buildings in the southern city of Mykolaiv several days after Ukrainian officials accused Russia of hitting a children’s hospital, The Associated Press reported.
A doctor at the hospital, Maksim Beznosenko, said that the building suffered damage but no one was killed during the attack, the news outlet noted. A couple hundred patients were inside during the shelling.
The development comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Thursday that it had verified at least 26 attacks on health care facilities in Ukraine.
“As of today, @WHO has verified 26 attacks on health care in #Ukraine between 24 Feb-9 Mar, incl. the maternity hospital in Mariupol; In total, 12 people died and 34 have been injured. More incidents are being verified. WHO strongly condemns these attacks,” the organization tweeted.
Earlier this week, Ukraine alleged that Russian forces had hit a children’s hospital in the southeastern city of Mariupol, which officials said killed three people and injured many more.
—Caroline Vakil
Zelensky accuses Russia of kidnapping Ukrainian mayor
8:20 a.m.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of kidnapping the mayor to the southern city of Melitopol and equated Russian forces to “ISIS terrorists” during a video address late Friday night.
“Today in Melitopol the invaders captured mayor of the city, Ivan Fedorov. A man who courageously defends Ukraine and the people of his community. Obviously, this is a sign of the weakness of the invaders. They did not find any support on our land. Although they counted on it. Because for years they have been lying to themselves that people in Ukraine were supposedly waiting for Russia to come,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky said that the move constituted a “crime against democracy” and added that Ukraine demanded the release of the mayor.
“They have switched to a new stage of terror, when they are trying to physically eliminate representatives of the legitimate local Ukrainian authorities. It is clear to any democratic state in the world that a legitimately elected mayor is a true representative of the people,” the Ukrainian president said, later hitting Russia over its “autocratic rule.”
Footage that appeared to show Russian soldiers taking Fedorov away in Melitopol was broadcasted by CNN.
—Caroline Vakil
Mosque bombed in Mariupol, Ukraine officials say
7:41 a.m.
Ukrainian officials reported on Saturday that a mosque in Mariupol had been shelled by Russian forces, the latest in a spate of attacks on the southeastern Ukrainian city.
“The mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife Roksolana (Hürrem Sultan) in Mariupol was attacked by Russian invaders,” the Ukrainian Embassy in Turkey tweeted. “More than 80 adults and children, including Turkish citizens, are hiding from the shelling.”
Emine Dzheppar, the first deputy minister of foreign affairs for Ukraine, also said on Twitter that the mosque had been attacked.
“At this very moment, the [Russian] army is bombing the Magnificent Mosque, which was built in memory of Suleiman the Magnificent and Hürrem Sultan,” she tweeted. “Many adults and children, including Turkish citizens, are hiding from the bombardment in the mosque.”
The development comes as Mariupol continues to endure heavy fire. The attacks have forced a pause on the digging of trenches for mass graves, with the mayor saying that the “dead aren’t even being buried,” according to The Associated Press.
In the span of 12 days alone, the Mariupol mayor’s office said more than 1,500 people had died from the conflict, as of Friday.
—Caroline Vakil
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism