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The deadline of a Russian ultimatum demanding the surrender of Ukrainian forces in Mariupol has passed with no sign that the troops have complied.
The final Ukrainian holdouts, reportedly accompanied by 1,000 civilians, have taken shelter in the city’s massive Azovstal steel plant.
Moscow’s ultimatum comes as the local Ukrainian commander warned his troops can hold out for just “days or hours”.
But Kyiv says there is a tentative deal to rescue some civilians from the city.
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister, Iryna Vereshchuk, wrote on Facebook that women, children and the elderly would be allowed to leave Mariupol under the deal.
