Live updates | Russia-Ukraine War
LONDON — Britain’s defense ministry says Russia’s decision to end its effort to take a staunchly defended steel plant in the city of Mariupol is an effort to free up troops for deployment in other parts of eastern Ukraine.
In an intelligence update posted Friday morning, the ministry says that “a full ground assault by Russia on the plant would likely incur significant Russian casualties, further decreasing their overall combat effectiveness.”
The ministry says that heavy shelling and fighting continues in the Donbas region as Russia seeks to advance on the settlements of Krasny Lyman, Buhayikva, Barvinkove, Lyman and Popsana.
The ministry also says earlier losses are still affecting the Russian military, which is now being forced to ship damaged equipment back to Russia for repair while trying to reequip depleted forces.
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KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:
— Possible mass graves near Mariupol shown in satellite images
— Biden pledges $1.3B more for new weapons, economic aid to help Ukraine
— EXPLAINER: Why Washington is boosting heavy arms for Ukraine
— US to welcome Ukraine refugees but no longer through Mexico
— War in Ukraine spurs bid to take a closer look at UN vetoes
— EXPLAINER: Why the battle for Mariupol’s steel mill matters
— EXPLAINER: What’s the impact if Europe cuts off Russian oil?
— Britain to offer new weapons to India, hoping to wean it from Russia
— Zelenskyy gets John F. Kennedy award for defending democracy
— Follow all AP stories on Russia's war on Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:
UNITED NATIONS — Russia and Ukraine squared off at the U.N. on...
