Ukraine war: 120,000 civilians trapped in Mariupol, says Zelenskyy as evacuations halt

Servicemen of Donetsk People's Republic militia walk past damaged vehicles in an area controlled by Russian-backed separatist forces in Mariupol, April 19, 2022. - Copyright AP Photo/Alexei Alexandrov

By Euronews with AP, AFP

Published on 21/04/2022 - 06:50•Updated 23:09

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Ukraine says Russian shelling meant no evacuations were possible from Mariupol on Thursday. The city's mayor alleges 'mass burials' of civilians in a nearby village.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday told Russian forces not to storm Ukraine's last stronghold in the port city of Mariupol as the city's Ukrainian defenders said they may only have a few days or hours left.

It comes after Ukrainian officials called for a "special round of negotiations" in Mariupol without conditions as Russia's offensive intensifies in the east.