Day 53 of Putin's war. Russia strikes Kyiv Oblast and Kharkiv, Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol refuse to surrender(UPDATED)

UPDATE(2040): Five people were killed and 20 injured in today's Russian missile strike on Kharkiv's city center, Kharkiv governor Oleh Synehubov has said in a Telegram statement.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Armed Forces have been doing their best to squeeze Russians out of the region. On April 17 Ukrainian Army conducted several successful counterattacks and liberated villages Bazaliyivka, Lebiazhe, and a part of Kutuzivka. 

UPDATE(2033): Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol, who still control the AzovStal steel factory and port, have refused to obey the Russian ultimatum and surrender, the Ukrainian Prime Minister has said.  Ukrainian border guards, marines, and Azov regiment fighters still fighting in Mariupol have been holding their positions and keeping Mariupol from falling entirely under Russian occupation, the prime minister told ABC News.

UPDATE(1849): Russian invaders have started forcefully conscripting Ukrainians in occupied towns and cities to the Russian army, the Ukrainian Army General Staff has reported.

From Monday the conscription will start in Mariupol. And in Izyum Russians have been already forcing Ukrainians to fight on their side against Ukraine.

UPDATE(1849): Russian invading forces have shelled several settlements in Zaporizhzhya Oblast, Ukrainian Humanrights Ombudswoman Liudmyla Denisova reported on Facebook on April 17.

According to her, today Russian missiles struck residential areas in the town Polohy, injuring a 12-year-old child. A victim had to be taken to a hospital for immediate surgery. 

In the town of Vasylivka, one person was killed and five others were wounded in artillery shelling by Russian invaders. Several houses and a depot at the railway station were damaged. I

In the city of Huliaipole, the Russian shelling damaged civilian homes and social facilities.

UPDATE (1703): Russian invading forces have shelled Kharkiv, killing five people and injuring 13, Kharkiv Oblast Council Health Care Department told Suspilne on April 17.

Russians struck the city center today. Yesterday the occupiers fired 23 times on Kharkiv and nearby Derhachi village.

Suspilne has also published a video that shows a moment Kharkiv doctors were trying to help a wounded civilian on a street when Russians struck again very close to them.

UPDATE (1423): The production of ZRK anti-aircraft missile systems has been put on hold in Russia due to a lack of parts that Russia used to import from other countries, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate has reported. 

According to Ukrainian intelligence, the Uliyanovskiy Mechanic Factory in Russia has almost stopped production, with many workers being laid off. Uliyanovskiy Factory produces ZRK Buk, ZRK Kub, air defense, and radiolocation systems for the Russian Army. 

Russia had to suspend production due to a shortage of important components it used to import from other countries. Germany used to be the largest supplier of the Russian military-industrial complex.

Western sanctions imposed on Russia for its unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine have interrupted these supplies. 

UPDATE (1304): In Nova Kakhovka, a town in Russian-occupied Kherson Oblast, there was a shootout between Russian troops and Russian proxies, the governor of neighboring Mykolaiv Oblast  Vitaly Kim has reported. 

Meanwhile, British intelligence has said that although Russian invading forces have shifted to Ukraine's east, the main goal of Moscow remains the same - to force Ukraine to abandon its European aspirations and establish Russian regional dominance over the country. 

Morning Digest

Russians have demanded Ukrainian soldiers, remaining in Mariupol to surrender this morning. President Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted on negotiations, threatening that if Russia kills Mariupol defenders Ukraine will withdraw from negotiations with Russia.

Meanwhile, Russian missiles struck Brovary, a town in Kyiv Oblast, damaging infrastructure. The local mayor has reported that there might be no electricity and water supplies.

Russian invading forces have also shelled several villages in the Kryvyi Rih district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Local authorities have reported houses and farms were damaged. No casualties were reported. 

Just like in Mariupol before Russia has started abducting Ukrainians and taking them to Russia in the occupied parts of Kharkiv Oblast. More than 50 people were deported to Russia from Izium, a strategic town in Kharkiv Oblast, currently controlled by Russian occupiers, local council has reported.