Brutal onslaught rages in Ukraine as Zelensky calls for more international support

Kyiv, Ukraine
CNN
—

Russia’s brutal onslaught of Ukraine is raging on multiple fronts, but despite desperate pleas for more international assistance, the country faces Moscow’s offensive largely alone.

Key cities in Ukraine were attacked from several sides Tuesday, with Russia launching strikes on buildings in the center of the capital Kyiv, and scaling up its bombardment of Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv.

Russian troops have taken full control of the southern city of Kherson, Russian state news agency TASS reported defense ministry officials as saying. CNN was unable to immediately verify the claims, although video and social media posts verified by CNN provided new evidence that the Russians are moving throughout the city apparently unimpeded.

At least 136 people, including 13 children, have been killed since Russia invaded Thursday – and another 400 civilians have been injured, according to the United Nations, though it cautioned the real toll was likely to be much higher.

Institute for the Study of War, Maps4News, Google Maps, CNN reporting

As the attacks continue, Russia is facing increased criticism over its invasion of Ukraine, with US President Joe Biden slamming Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in his State of the Union speech Tuesday for a “premeditated and unprovoked war.”

“Putin is now isolated from the world more than he has ever been,” Biden said, as he announced a ban on Russian aircraft and airlines from entering US airspace.

‘He has no idea what’s coming’: Biden sends message to Putin

But while the US and NATO allies have aided Ukraine by sharing arms, military equipment and intelligence while imposing dramatic sanctions on Russia, the alliance has thus far made clear it has no plans to send soldiers into Ukraine – a position Biden reiterated in his speech Tuesday.

Ukraine, which is not a NATO member, has mounted a fierce reistance, but in a rare interview from a Kyiv bunker Tuesday, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that his country – which has a much smaller military than Russia – needs more help to prevent the crisis from spreading across Europe.

“I’ve spoken to Biden many times,” Zelensky told CNN’s Matthew Chance. “And I’ve told them many times that Ukraine will resist and fight stronger than anyone else but on our own against Russia we won’t manage it.”

As Russia launched strikes on key cities Tuesday, Zelensky warned Russia was indiscriminately attacking Ukrainian citizens and historical landmarks.

“As you can see, no one is being very careful about the targets. We see the children are being killed,” he said. “We are defending our right for life.”

The UK Ministry of Defense said in its latest intelligence update Tuesday that Russia had increased its air and artillery strikes against densely populated urban areas across Ukraine over the past 48 hours. Russian forces had encircled the cities of Kharkiv, Kherson and Mariupol, it added.

A 40-mile Russian convoy of tanks, armored vehicles and towed artillery continues to edge toward the Ukrainian capital, according to satellite images from Maxar Technologies. A US official said the convoy has been stalled due to fuel supply issues, while the UK said in its latest intelligence update that the column continues to make slow progress toward Kyiv.