By — Ali Rogin Ali Rogin Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/in-the-battered-port-city-of-mariupol-ukrainians-resist-russian-demands-to-surrender Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript Audio In Ukraine, Russian long-range attacks continue to rain down near Kyiv, even as Russian troops consolidate in the south and east. And the port city of Mariupol is on the brink of a full Russian takeover, but the remaining Ukrainian forces aren't going willingly. Ali Rogin reports. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. Geoff Bennett: In Ukraine, Russian long range attacks continue to rain down near Kyiv even as Russian troops consolidate in the south and east and as correspondent Ali Rogin reports, the city of Mariupol is on the brink of a full Russian takeover. But the remaining Ukrainian forces aren't going willingly. Ali Rogin: In the battered port city of Mariupol, a Russian deadline to surrender has come and gone. But there were no signs of giving in. Igor Konashenkov, Spokesman, Russian Defense Ministry (through translator): Ukrainian forces surrounded and completely blocked and Larry people were asked to voluntarily lay down their arms and surrender. However, the Kyiv regime according to radio interception for bade negotiations on surrender.George Stephanopoulos, ABC News anchor: Has the city fallen?Deys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine: No, city still is not fallen. There is still our military forces, our soldiers so they will fight till the end. And as for now they still are in Mariupol. Ali Rogin: Moscow says there are about 3,000 Ukrainian fighters left in the city. Using a steel plant as a fortress, taking Mariupol would be a major victory for the Russians, allowing them to focus more attention on the nearby Donbas region. But President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it would eliminate the possibility of future peace talks. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President (through translator): I think Russians are making a huge mistake, the destruction of all our guys in Mariupol what they're doing now can put an end to any form of negotiations. Ali Rogin: Eastern cities like Kramatorsk are on high alert, bracing for a renewed Russian assault. But in the capital city of Kyiv, signs of a new normal, mundane activities like food shopping are now a declaration of defiance. Oleksiy Kylushyk, Vendor (through translator): Some are buying tangerines, cucumbers and tomatoes. Kyiv is gradually coming back to life. Ali Rogin: Even still on this orthodox Palm Sunday attending church services in Kyiv took courage. Natalia Kuzmenko, Ukrainian Retiree (through translator): My children were afraid about me coming here today. But I didn't tell them because I use back streets. I was a bit afraid but I came. I was cautious. Ali Rogin: In Vatican City as Roman Catholics gathered in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis lamented that it was an Easter of war.Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church (through translator): Please, please let us not get used to war. Let us all commit ourselves to imploring peace, from our balconies and in our streets. May the leaders of nations hear people's plea for peace. Ali Rogin: A plea that for now falls on deaf ears in Russia.For "PBS News Weekend," I'm Ali Rogin. Listen to this Segment Watch Watch the Full Episode PBS NewsHour from Apr 17, 2022 By — Ali Rogin Ali Rogin Ali Rogin is a correspondent for the PBS News Hour and PBS News Weekend, reporting on a number of topics including foreign affairs, health care and arts and culture. She received a Peabody Award in 2021 for her work on News Hour’s series on the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect worldwide. Rogin is also the recipient of two Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association and has been a part of several teams nominated for an Emmy, including for her work covering the fall of ISIS in 2020, the Las Vegas mass shooting in 2017, the inauguration of President Barack Obama in 2014, and the 2010 midterm elections.