Russia–Ukraine War (April 20): Top Putin Ally Says Russia Will Capture Mariupol on Thursday

Russia–Ukraine War (April 20): Top Putin Ally Says Russia Will Capture Mariupol on Thursday
Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov takes the oath during a swearing ceremony celebrating his near-total control of the southern Russian province Gudermes, Chechnya, Russia on April 5, 2007. Dima Korotayev/Epsilon/Getty Images
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The latest on the Russia–Ukraine crisis, April 20. Click here for updates from April 19.

Top Putin Ally Says Russia Will Capture Mariupol on Thursday

A top ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russian forces will seize the last main stronghold of resistance in the besieged city of Mariupol on Thursday after Ukraine proposed talks on evacuating troops and civilians there.
Mariupol would be the biggest city to be seized by Russia since invading Ukraine eight weeks ago in an attack that has taken longer than some military analysts expected, seen over five million people flee abroad, and turned cities to rubble.