In the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, people sheltering in a Russian-bombed theatre are beginning to emerge alive despite the odds

Thousands of people remain trapped in the coastal region as Russian forces continue their assault, with new estimates suggesting it is being hit by 50 to 100 artillery shells every day.

In a statement, the city council says:

Mariupol “has been under blockade for sixteen days… and more than 350,000 Mariupol residents continue to hide in shelters and basements from continuous shelling.”

The statement adds that around 80 percent of the city’s housing has been targeted and 30 percent of this cannot be restored.

At the city’s theatre, it is believed hundreds were sheltering in the bomb shelter below ground.

The council says information surrounding civilian casualties from Russia’s theatre attack remains unclear.

This comes as Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations DENIES his nation’s armed forces attacked the theatre in the first place

The former head of the Donetsk region posted to Facebook saying:

“After an awful night of not knowing, we finally have good news… the bomb shelter of the theatre was able to hold. The rubble is beginning to be cleared. People are coming out alive”.

But the fear of further Russian attacks coupled with the complete breakdown of social services is having an impact on the pace of rescue efforts.

It is not yet clear whether all those who sheltered in the theatre have survived. 

Around 1,300 people were believed to be in the building when it was bombed, with 130 rescued so far.

Ticker News spoke with an employee from Human Rights Watch who has been speaking with people inside the theatre.

In other news, the situation on the ground in Ukraine is changing slowly… as Western officials remain optimistic Putin could lose this war.

Zelensky’s addresses Gemany

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered yet another key-note address – this time to German lawmakers.

This time, Zelensky spoke of the fall of the Berlin Wall… urging German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to tear down what he described as a new wall between the “free and unfree” Europe.

Ukraine’s President called out his German allies for isolating his nation by strengthening ties with Russia over a number of years, particularly with the construction of Nord Stream 2.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says his government is working tirelessly to increase its military aid to Ukraine, and is pushing for a diplomatic end to the Russian invasion.

As he wrapped up his address, Zelenky’s message was simple… support freedom, support Ukraine, and stop this war.