Free Republic

Ukrainian forces in Mariupol have been forced to surrender to Russian soldiers as they are run out of ammunition and have been fighting without sufficient food and water for more than a month, according to an Independent report. A British man who volunteered to fight against Russian soldiers in Ukraine is also among these soldiers who have surrendered after defending Mariupol for weeks. PBS correspondant Simon Ostrovsky posted a picture of the British volunteer and confirmed that he had surrendered to Russian troops, according to a former squad member.

On March 31, the Russian President signed the decree stipulating acceptance of payments for gas in rubles.If gas buyers from unfriendly states refuse to pay for gas in rubles, Russia will view it as breach of contract, President Vladimir Putin said at the meeting on the situation in the aviation sector."If such [ruble] payments are not made, we will consider this to be the buyers’ failure to perform commitments with all ensuing implications," Putin said.