Broadcaster John Irvine and the ITV news crew were left staring down the barrel of a Russian tank during a harrowing near-miss.
As the crew joined the last convoy out of Mariupol, the city became besieged by Russian troops.
From nowhere, the fearsome tank ominously turned towards their vehicle before soldiers then pointed their guns at the broadcasters.
The ITV team, along other journalists and some diplomats, were stopped just five miles outside of the city.
Before long, a tank turret turned towards their car before troops knelt and aimed their rifles at the convoy.
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"At one point the tank turret turned to us," Senior International Correspondent Irvine said in the report.
"Then, they aimed their rifles at their convoy.
"We were staring down the barrel - it wasn't clear what spooked them."
He added: "Soon, they searched their vehicles and thankfully the situation calmed down. They checked our IDs and allowed us to proceed."
Residents of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol say they are trying to survive a relentless barrage of Russian shelling that has smashed residential districts.
At least one teenager died in the city and two more were wounded in attacks.
The bombings have cut off power and water supplies.
"There has been no light, no heat, and no water now for two full days and we have hardly any food left," Maxim, 27, told the BBC.
"Food and medicine is not moving in Mariupol now. The local government tried to give out bread and water but it is gone," he said. "I filled the bath with water before the water stopped. We have about five litres left."
Mariupol's Mayor Vadym Boychenko said the attacks there had been relentless.
"We cannot even take the wounded from the streets, from houses and apartments today, since the shelling does not stop," he was quoted as saying.
