Good morning. Today is Saturday, April 17th. I'm Maria Theresa Kumar, filling in for Ali

Valshi. On the 53rd day of Russia's devastating invasion of Ukraine, the key city of Maripold

could be on the brink of falling to Russian forces, an explosive reminder that the

whole country remains under severe threat. Russia claims its forces have been completely

surrounded the besieged city of Maripold. There are reportedly some Ukrainian forces hold up

inside a steel factory. The Russian defense ministry is demanding that those remaining Ukrainian

forces surrender by today. The governor of Dinesk region,

which encompasses Maripold, told the Washington Post that the city has been, quote, wiped off the face

of the earth. And its mayors have said that more than 10,000 civilians have been killed in the region

since the war began. If Russia were to gain full control of Maripold, it would be Putin's biggest victory yet,

and would be the first major city taken by Russia. In a late night address, Ukrainian President

Zelenskyy said that conditions inside Maripold were inhumane and did confirm that there were

several circles of Russian forces now surrounding it. Quote, the situation is very difficult. Our military is

blocked. The wounded are blocked. There's a humanitarian crisis. There is no food, no water,

no medicine. Nevertheless, the guys are defending themselves. The Kremlin could begin its next phase

of this war as soon as this week, according to two senior U.S. defense officials who spoke to NBC

news. Meanwhile, earlier this morning, an explosion was heard towards the left bank of Kiev,

Ukraine's capital city, and several explosions rocked the outskirts of Kiev earlier yesterday,

leaving one person dead and several others injured, according to the city's mayor. However, NBC News

has not been able to

independently verify this claim. Ukrainian officials say Russian units already stationed in Ukraine

have run into supply problems, but have been able to accumulate significant stockpiles of

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