Zelenskiy compares siege of Mariupol to Leningrad | First Thing
Biden calls Putin a war criminal' amid attacks on Kyiv. Plus, 13% of mail ballots rejected in Texas primary
Good morning.
The Ukrainian president has drawn parallels between Russia's siege of the southern city of Mariupol and that of Leningrad during the second world war, as Russian forces continued to shell Kyiv.
How many have been killed in Mariupol? Local officials estimated that more than 2,500 people had been killed but the shelling meant the dead could not be counted. More than 400,000 were either without access to running water, food and medical supplies or struggling with a dwindling amount.
Russia launched an airstrike on a theatre in Mariupol where hundreds of displaced people were believed to have been sheltering. Zelenskiy said it was unclear how many had died or been injured.
What is the US doing? It will send an extra $800m in security assistance to Ukraine, including 800 anti-aircraft systems, 9,000 anti-armour systems, 20m rounds of ammunition and drones.
Were votes rejected at the same rate across counties? No. The rejection rate was higher in counties that lean Democratic (15.1%) than Republican (9.1%).
Are tougher voting laws in Texas unique? No. The state is the first to cast ballots under more restrictive voting rules but at least 17 other states will do so in the coming months.
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