The seaport of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, on the Azov Sea, has been conquered by the soldiers of the pro-Russian separatist republic of Donetsk. Gunmen claim to have taken control of it in recent hours. Meanwhile, what remains of the Ukrainian army is preparing for the final battle to defend the city. Kiev, aided by Western countries, is sending reinforcements to counter the major Russian offensive expected in the Donbass region.

"The defense of Mariupol continues. The connection with the units of the defense forces heroically defending the city is stable and is being maintained. We are doing the possible and the impossible to win and save the lives of personnel and civilians", the commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, General Valery Zaluzhny, told reporters at "Ukrainska Pravda".

Meanwhile, US intelligence believes that the Kremlin wants to at least double its deployment of armed men and military assets in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. Preliminary act to the final battle for the control of the Donbass and the south-eastern coast of Ukraine. This explains the Russian military convoy, about 12 km long, directed in eastern Ukraine east of Kharkiv, intercepted by American satellites in recent hours. 

On the same subject see also the article published by AVIONEWS.