The Latest Breaking News from Mariupol

As Russian forces prepare for what Ukrainian officials say could be an "even bigger" offensive in the east, shelling continues to impact those living in the Donetsk region.

LVIV, Ukraine — Russian forces aimed a punishing artillery barrage Saturday at cities, towns and villages in eastern Ukraine, destroying electrical plants, fuel depots and other key infrastructure.

Ukraine's military said on Saturday that Russian planes had continued to launch strikes on the besieged city of Mariupol, focusing on the Azovstal steelworks where troops and civilians are sheltering.

President Emmanuel Macron said France would step up military and humanitarian support to Ukraine during a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Saturday, Paris said. Macron reiterated his "strong concern" over Russia's bombing of Ukrainian cities and the "unbearable situation" in the southeastern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol,…

Two Ukrainian women whose husbands are defending a besieged steel plant in the southern city of Mariupol are calling for any evacuation of civilians to also include soldiers

Nearby village of Ruska recaptured, says Ukrainian president, as Sergei Lavrov says peace talks must include lifting sanctions

The British military believes Russian forces in Ukraine are likely suffering from “weakened morale.”

At least 20 civilians have been evacuated from the Azovstal steelworks, where the last Ukrainian troops are holed up in the Black Sea port of Mariupol. Earlier, a Russian missile strike had hit Odesa airport, rendering its runway unusable. Follow FRANCE 24's liveblog for all the latest. All times are…

Russia carried out missile strikes across southern and eastern Ukraine on Saturday, Ukrainian officials said, and some women and children were evacuated from a steel plant in the besieged city of Mariupol after sheltering there for over a week.