ukrainian capital kyiv saying so-called decision-making centers will be targeted if ukrainian forces continue to plan access of sabotage and commit military strikes. but it s been two weeks now since rurgz forces retreated from the north after failing to take the capital. the french military now saying a large-scale russian offensive in the donbas region could within days, possibly ten days but a spokesperson also says russian forces are yet to make any significant territorial gains in the east. meantime, ukrainian fighters claim to have used neptune anti-ship missiles to cause serious damage to the flagship of the russian fleet in the black sea but russian-state media disputes this, saying a fire detonated ammunition onboard this guided missile cruiser and was evacuated. cnn, though, cannot verify either claim. and to the south, russia claims more than a thousand ukrainian marines have surrendered in the besieged port sea of mariupol.
these images aired on russian state television. cnn is not in mariupol and ca cannot confirm. and in the city of kharkiv, images on social media appears to show explosions from cluster munitions in civilian areas. the u.n. says such attacks may mount to war crimes. for weeks now, ukraine s president has been pleading for heavier firepower from the international community, ask now the u.s. finally ready to deliver with a new $800 million security package. notably, it includes almost a dozen made soviet-era helicopters which can also be used as gunships. that s something zelenskyy asked specifically of president biden. anti-tank missiles, armored personnel carriers, protective equipment to guide against chemical attacks and european union announced its own military aid package with $544 million,
served the cause. there is not much left of the besieged sort city of mariupol after weeks of relentless artillery fire, missile attacks, as well as air strikes. ukrainian officials fear tens of thousands may be dead. those who have been able to get out have escaped. cnn s matt rivers reports now on those who are left behind are fighting back. reporter: weeks after russia beg began an offensive bombardment and still, ukraine s government says mariupol has not fallen. increasingly, a symbol of both ukrainian resistance ask russian military goals. urain yan officials are holding up the city be heroic fight, with an aide to president zelenskyy saying on facebook two different units defending mariupol have managed to link up and continue their fight. one of those units releasing a message saying they, quote, did not give up their positions. and now, there are accusations from the ukrainians that russia has used chemical weapons here.
initial aborted invasion, has been beyond the reach of russian ground troops. but now, once again, nowhere is safe. nima elbagir, cnn, kharkiv. for weeks, the russians have thrown almost everything they have at the port city of mare kro kr mariupol, but it still stands in ukrainian control. the latest on the fighting for that city when we come back.
translator: the day before yesterday, the russian troops attempted to strike our city with a so-called chemical attack. they tried to drop a chemical agent on our defenders. the agent did affect our defenders and there is evidence a number of people living in the outskirts of mariupol were also affected. president zelenskyy accuses him of using phosphorus bombs prohibited by international law. the u.s., as well as cnn teams on the ground have not yet verified such an attack did indeed occur. no conclusive imagery has surfaced and russia denies even having chem km weapons. but chemical weapons or not, the destruction has been devastating. more than 90% of the infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed and officials say russian forces have cut off crucial supplies, including water and food. we are currently discussing 20 to 22,000 people dead in mariupol. reporter: meanwhile, russia is in engaged in an intense