A man walks in a street damaged by shelling in Mariupol
(Picture: AP)More than 2,500 people in Mariupol have been killed since Russia invaded Ukraine, an official has said.
Presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych revealed the latest civilian casualties in the besieged port city during a televised interview on Monday.
He also accused Russian forces of preventing humanitarian aid reaching the city which has seen heavy shelling and a two-week blockade by Russian forces.
Apartment buildings and residential areas have been destroyed.
However, Russia has repeatedly denied it is targeting civilians.
It comes as the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that “time us running out” for residents unless they get access to humanitarian aid and a ceasefire is agreed.
Ukraine’s deputy prime minister confirmed it will “once again” attempt to evacuate trapped civilians through 10 humanitarian corridors, including Mariupol, on Monday.
She said: “We will, once again, try to unblock the movement of the humanitarian convoy carrying food and medicine to (Mariupol) from Berdiansk.”
The city of around 440,000 people is of strategic importance to Russia.
Taking control of it would allow Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine to join forces with troops in Crimea.
In its latest intelligence update, the UK Ministry of Defence said on Monday that more than 2.5 million refugees have been forced from their homes as a result of the conflict.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 14 March 2022
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) March 14, 2022
Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/sxD1cgzdve
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/titfEWfl1X
“Indiscriminate Russian shelling and air attacks are causing widespread destruction,” it said.
The United Nations have reported that there have already been 1,663 civilian casualties since the Russian invasion began on February 24, - 596 killed and 1,067 injured -although “the true figures are likely to be significantly higher”.
