Several hours have now passed since a deadline set by Russia for Ukraine to give up the besieged port city of Mariupol, where 300,000 people are believed to be trapped with dwindling supplies.
What had Russia said?
The Russian military had given Ukraine until 05:00 Moscow time (02:00 GMT) on Monday to announce the city’s surrender, promising that in return it would would safeguard two humanitarian corridors for civilians to leave the city.
How did Ukraine respond?
Ukraine rejected the ultimatum. “There can be no question of any surrender, laying down of arms,” the country’s deputy prime minister was quoted by Ukrainska Pravda news outlet as saying.
Speaking to the BBC, an advisor to the city’s mayor said Russia’s promises could not be trusted and the defenders would fight to the last soldier.
What could happen now?
It’s not clear.
Moscow did not specify what its troops encircling the city would do if the surrender ultimatum was rejected.
The mayor of Kiev, Vitaly Klitchko, has said that Russian bombings have also hit several houses in a populated neighborhood in Podil.
Russian forces have been bombing Kiev for four weeks now and are trying to encircle the city of nearly three million people before the fighting erupted.
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