Ukraine war: Tens of thousands may have been killed in Mariupol, Zelenskyy says, as he warns of ‘tense’ week ahead – Sky News

Many thousands of people may have been killed in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned.

"Mariupol has been destroyed, there are tens of thousands of dead," he told the South Korean parliament.

But despite "even" such enormous losses, the Russians are "not stopping their offensive", he added.

Drone footage has shown swathes of destroyed streets in Mariupol, which lies between areas which have been annexed by Russian-backed separatists and Russian-controlled Crimea.

The UK's Ministry of Defence (MOD) said Russian forces' "prior use of phosphorous munitions in the Donetsk Oblast" means they may be used in Mariupol as "fighting for the city intensifies".

Ukraine needs "various military technologies from planes to tanks", Mr Zelenskyy told South Korean MPs.

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In his nightly address, he said Russia could launch a large military offensive in the east of Ukraine within days - despite questions about the ability of its demoralised soldiers.

Russian-backed separatists have been fighting Ukraine in the eastern Donbas region since 2014.

Ukraine is believed to have tens of thousands of soldiers in the east - the bulk of its military force - ahead of what could be one of the war's decisive battles.

In its latest intelligence update, the MOD said Russian shelling had continued in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Ukrainian forces have "repulsed several assaults", leading to the "destruction of Russian tanks, vehicles, and artillery equipment", the MOD added.

It said Russia was continuing to rely on unguided bombs which "decreases their ability to discriminate when targeting and conducting strikes", increasing the risk of civilian casualties.

President Zelenskyy said the coming week will be "tense", with Russia "even more afraid to lose afraid that the truth will have to be admitted".

"Russian troops will move to even larger operations in the east of our state," he warned. "They can use even more missiles against us, even more air bombs. But we are preparing for their actions. We will respond."

Key developments:

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Austrian chancellor to meet Putin in Moscow

Monday's meeting with Karl Nehammer will be the Russian president's first face-to-face meeting with a European Union counterpart since the invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February.

Prior to his trip, Mr Nehammer described the conflict as a "Russian war of aggression against Ukraine", despite his country being "militarily neutral".

He added on Twitter: "He has to stop! It needs humanitarian corridors, a ceasefire and full investigation of war crimes."

Russia calling on ex-soldiers to return as it admits 'mounting losses'

It emerged on Sunday that the Russian military was calling on ex-soldiers who have been discharged since 2012 to return for its offensive in Ukraine.

According to the British Ministry of Defence, this is "in response to mounting losses".

It added: "Efforts to generate more fighting power also include trying to recruit from the unrecognised Transnistria region of Moldova."

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The territory broke away after a short civil war in the early 1990s, and Russia has an estimated 1,500 troops there.

There are concerns that, if Russia was to secure a takeover of Ukraine, it could then use the disputed Transnistria to launch an attack on Moldova.

It comes a few days after Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Sky News that Russia had suffered "significant losses" of troops since the invasion began on 24 February, adding: "It's a huge tragedy for us."

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Russia must 'accept the truth', says Zelenskyy

Mr Zelenskyy also said late on Sunday that Russia was trying to evade responsibility for war crimes.

He said: "When people lack the courage to admit their mistakes, apologise, adapt to reality and learn, they turn into monsters. And when the world ignores it, the monsters decide that it is the world that has to adapt to them.

"Ukraine will stop all this."

"The day will come when they will have to admit everything - accept the truth," he added.

Evidence of alleged war crimes has been found in a number of towns and villages in the north of Ukraine, following the Russian withdrawal from that part of the country.

Read more: Ukrainian police go from house to house in 'death smelling' van

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Mr Zelenskyy has previously said that he expects more evidence to be found in the southern city of Mariupol once it is no longer blockaded.

Mariupol has been under sustained Russian attack for about six weeks, leaving the remaining citizens without food, water, and electricity.

It has been almost impossible to get emergency relief into the city, and almost impossible to get civilians out.

For Russia, taking Mariupol would mean a land bridge to the Crimean Peninsula, which they took from Ukraine eight years ago.

:: The Great Debate - Is The West Letting Putin Get Away With It? is on Sky News tonight at 9pm.

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Ukraine war: Tens of thousands may have been killed in Mariupol, Zelenskyy says, as he warns of 'tense' week ahead - Sky News