Ukrainians in the besieged port city of Mariupol have refused to surrender to Moscow, despite dire humanitarian conditions, with Iryna Vereshchuk, the country’s deputy prime minister, insisting “there can be no question of any laying down of arms.”

This refusal comes after the Russian military gave Ukraine until 05:00 Moscow time today (02:00 GMT) to give up the south-eastern city and hand over weapons, in exchange for safe humanitarian routes out of the city.