Civilians are finally being evacuated from the bombed-out steel plantwhere hundreds have been sheltering in the last Ukrainian stronghold in Mariupol, the key city that is otherwise under Russian control after months of siege.
The rescue operation in the southeastern port, which also includes other areas of the city, comes after weeks of failed efforts with Russian forces bombarding Mariupol as they battle to make progress in their new offensive in the region.
The United States and its allies have stepped up their military support for Kyiv, with the surprise weekend trip to the Ukrainian capital by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic lawmakers the latest signal of growing Western backing.
