A video circulating on social media seems to point out a Russian soldier holding up grenades after threatening to raze a metropolis in northeastern Ukraine until it surrenders.

A "Russian delegation" got here to Konotop, a metropolis within the Sumy area, "to 'negotiate' (i.e. threatened to stage town)," Michael Horowitz, an analyst with safety consultancy Le Beck Worldwide, wrote alongside the clip on Twitter.

The clip reveals a Russian soldier stroll by means of a crowd of individuals exterior the Konotop Metropolis Council constructing whereas holding two hand grenades within the air.

Ukrainians are heard cursing on the troopers, telling them to "get out" and shouting "glory to Ukraine."

In accordance with video posted on social media, Konotop's mayor, Artem Semenikhin, informed his metropolis's residents that Russian troops had delivered an ultimatum: to give up or town can be destroyed with artillery strikes.

"They provided us a selection: both we give up, or they destroy the place with their artillery," he mentioned.

He requested these assembled in the event that they needed to struggle for Konotop.

"Who's for standing up and preventing?" Semenikhin mentioned, with most shouting again that they needed to struggle. "We have to determine now, as a result of their missiles are aimed toward us"

A publish on the Telegram channel of the Sumy Regional Army Administration mentioned: "In Konotop, the occupiers got here to 'negotiate' with town authorities. In accordance with the mayor Artem Semenikhin, the Russian navy arrived and informed him to present town beneath their management. They threatened to convey artillery to town. They have been despatched to the best place. On the similar time, hostile autos have been surrounded by residents shouting 'Disgrace!'"

The incident got here as Russia escalated its assaults on city areas in Ukraine because the conflict entered a seventh day.

Russian Soldier holding grenades
A Russian soldier was seen apparently carrying two grenades as he walked by means of a crowd of shouting Ukrainians in Konotop.Twitter

On Wednesday, a 40-mile-long convoy of Russian navy autos was about 15 miles north of the capital Kyiv, the place the primary TV tower was taken out in an assault on Tuesday that killed 5 civilians.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky decried Russia's escalation of assaults on crowded cities after a blast struck a central sq. in Kharkiv, the nation's second metropolis.

"No person will forgive. No person will overlook," he mentioned, calling the assault "frank, undisguised terror" and a conflict crime.

In a video posted on Fb on Wednesday, Zelensky mentioned Russian troops have orders to "erase our nation" however praised the individuals of Ukraine.

"At the moment Ukrainians are a logo of invincibility," he mentioned. "A logo that individuals in any nation can grow to be the very best individuals on earth at any second."

Observe our dwell weblog for updates on the Russia-Ukraine battle

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