Odessa braces for Russian assault as humanitarian conditions deteriorate

[Celerity]

Humanitarian conditions further deteriorate under Moscow’s increased shelling

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/07/russia-ukraine-war-news-putin-live-updates/



The southern Ukrainian city of Odessa was on Monday bracing for a Russian assault as humanitarian conditions across the country continued to deteriorate under Moscow’s increased shelling of civilian areas.

The mayor of the strategically important port city told The Washington Post that “the aggressor is not far from Odessa,” with the Kremlin’s forces having already captured the city of Kherson to the east and eight Russian warships looming just outside Ukraine’s territorial waters.

Concern mounted as the third round of talks between the two sides ended without a breakthrough. Ukrainian officials said Russia pressed them to give up Crimea and territory in eastern Ukraine as a condition for halting the invasion. However, Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak said they made some progress on organizing local cease-fires and evacuation corridors for women, children and other civilians, who have increasingly come under attack with Russia stepping up indiscriminate shelling.