Ukraine’s defence ministry said Russian troops are committing “genocide” against Ukrainians in Mariupol. 

The city has been one of the worst-hit, with officials saying at least 2,400 people have been killed. 

There is hope to evacuate civilians on Thursday through nine more “humanitarian corridors, according to Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk.

Speaking to European lawmaker, defence minister Oleksii Reznikov said they should recognise Putin as a war criminal.