A Ukrainian general has claimed that dead Russian soldiers are becoming “dog food”.

General Dmytro Marchenko, who is leading the defence of the city of Mykolaiv, said: “It’s unpleasant to say this, but their corpses are food for stray dogs.

“We’re not able to retrieve them because of continuing Russian fire in those areas.

“We guarantee we won’t shoot any Russian soldiers who give up.

“Also, we guarantee that no harm will come to Russian tank crews if they come toward our liens with their main guns turned away from us.

“If they have committed crimes, they will be tried but they will be alive.

“The rest of them will become dog food.”