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Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv is now fully “encircled” by Russian troops — leaving no way out for millions of citizens facing “a humanitarian catastrophe,” Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Sunday.
The former heavyweight boxing champ told The Associated Press that it was now impossible to evacuate the city “because all ways are blocked.”
“Right now, we are encircled,” he admitted of those remaining in the city of 2.8 million, many of whom have been forced to hide in bunker-like subway stations amid ongoing shelling.
Klitschko, 50, confirmed that at least nine civilians had been killed in Kyiv so far, including one child.
“We are at the border of a humanitarian catastrophe,” he said of dwindling stocks of food and medicine.
“Right now, we have electricity, right now we have water and heating in our houses. But the infrastructure is destroyed to deliver the food and medication,” he warned.
Klitschko said the curfew he ordered is to extend until at least 8 a.m. Monday — and was enforced largely to weed out saboteurs fighting on behalf of Russia.
“We are hunting these people, and it will be much easier if nobody is on the street,” Klitschko explained, claiming that six such “saboteurs” were killed Saturday night.
He conceded there is a risk that those enemies could be hiding among the long lines of people waiting to pick up weapons being handed out to help defend the nation.
“To be honest, we don’t have 100 percent control,” Klitschko admitted. “We built this territorial defense in a short amount of time.
“Right now, the most important question is to defend our country,” he added.
The former pro fighter insisted that his nation has remained “strong.”
“Every Ukrainian is proud to be independent, proud to be Ukrainian, and we are proud to have our own country,” he insisted of their refusal to give in despite being dwarfed by Russian forces.
With Post Wires
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