Ukrainian forces claimed on Monday that Russia had launched attacks in the besieged city of Mariupol using chemical munitions delivered by drone.

The Azov battalion’s reports, which have not yet been independently verified, claimed that those affected by the attack are suffering from breathing and neurological problems.

In response, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki issued calls yesterday for “a two-way approach” to stop the Kremlin’s war machine, combining “weapons supplies to Ukraine and very powerful sanctions against Russia.”

The US Pentagon’s press secretary John Kirby added in a statement: “These reports, if true, are deeply concerning and reflective of concerns that we have had about Russia’s potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine.”

Officials and analysts now estimate that over 80% of Mariupol has been destroyed, and some 20,000 civilians have been killed. Those who remain in the city lack access to water, electricity, and heating and are unable to flee due to the impossibility of organizing humanitarian corridors for evacuation.

Source: Radio Gdańsk, Radio Poland, PAP

Local officials have announced that the square at the intersection of Partyzantów and Matki Polki streets in Wrzeszcz will be named in honor of the heroes of Mariupol.

The location for honoring the residents and defenders of Mariupol was not chosen by accident, as the Consulate General of Russia sits only a few dozen meters from the park.

The square will officially be renamed in a ceremony on April 30 after administrative formalities are completed. Mariupol officials promised to return the favor by naming a street in honor of Gdansk when Mariupol is rebuilt. Gdańsk authorities have pledged to aid in the reconstruction efforts.

Source: Radio Gdańsk, Telegram

Musicians and staff from the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra are currently being hosted in Warsaw as they prepare for a series of concerts and a tour featuring Ukrainian and Polish music.

Polish Deputy Prime Minister Piotr Gliński welcomed the musicians to their first rehearsal on Monday, emphasizing the need for all to “act together and end this war with the help of all countries.”

The executive director of the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra, Anna Stavytchenko, thanked the Polish Ministry of Culture and other Polish institutions for their support. “For us,” she explained, “it is very important to be the voice of Ukraine during these tragic and dark times and make the audience discover, and hopefully enjoy, Ukrainian music.”

The upcoming concerts will feature works by leading Ukrainian composers Maxim Berezovsky, Myroslav Skoryk, and Boris Lyatoshynsky, as well as music by Polish 19th-century composer Henryk Wieniawski, performed by Polish violinist Janusz Wawrowski.

The orchestra’s debut concert will be held at Warsaw’s National Philharmonic Hall on April 21, followed by a stop in the central city of Łódź on April 23 and subsequent concerts in Berlin, Leipzig, Hamburg, and Dresden.

Source: Radio Poland

The trade union Solidarity (NSZZ Solidarność) has issued an urgent call for volunteers and donations to support the reception point for refugees at its Gdańsk headquarters.

Organizers are asking for donations of suitcases (preferably with wheels), prams, and baby carriers, as many of those who have fled could not take anything with them except their outer clothing and documents.

Volunteer shifts are available in three rotations: 8:00-16:00, 16:00-24:00, and 0:00-8:00. Those interested in volunteering should send their name, telephone number, and availability to the ZRG secretariat at prezydium@solidarnosc.gda.pl or via phone at 58 308 43 52 during business hours (9:00 am – 4:00 pm).

The reception point is located at the headquarters of NSZZ „Solidarność” in Gdańsk, at ul. Wały Piastowskie 24, close to Dworzec Główny and across from the “Zieleniak” building.

Weather

Today will be partly cloudy with very little chance of rain and a gentle breeze coming in from the south. Temperatures will be warmer than yesterday, with a high around 15°C, or 59°F, dropping to an overnight low of 1°C or 34°F. Clouds and rain are expected to roll in tomorrow afternoon, with a chance for more sun returning over the weekend

Elizabeth Peck