Ukrainian marine commander makes last-effort plea for evacuations

Ukrainian marine commander makes last-effort plea for evacuations
The fight to take Mariupol has intensified while more than 1,000 civilians and Ukrainian troops are reportedly taking shelter at the Azovstal Steel mill in the Sea of Azov port city of Mariupol, Reuters reports.

Both Ukrainian and Russian officials acknowledged Tuesday that the war had entered a new phase. Ukraine’s military said “the occupiers made an attempt to break through our defenses along nearly the entire front line,” while Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said the goal was "full liberation" in Donetsk and Luhansk.