Mariupol Defenders in Final Stand at Sprawling Steel Plant

Mariupol, Ukraine, where Russia’s defense ministry has called for a surrender.

Photographer: Alexander Nemenov/Getty Images

This is a special daily brief on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, one of the most urgent security crises in Europe since World War II.

Ukrainian defenders at a sprawling steel plant in the largely-destroyed eastern port city of Mariupol remain outnumbered and again appealed for help from other countries as they face off against Russian forces.