Russian troops have abducted tens of thousands of Ukrainians who are made to carry out "forced labour" across the border, it is claimed.
Vladimir Putin's forces have been accused of a war crime amid reports that civilians are being made to leave the city of Mariupol - meaning children are forcibly separated from their parents.
The port city has been devastated by weeks of heavy bombardment, and it now claimed that Russian soldiers have been bursting into cellars where people are hiding and telling them they must leave in 15 minutes.
Segei Orlov, deputy mayor of Mariupol, said that if they refuse, their buildings are destroyed, leaving families "entombed".
He said he has been told that up to 40,000 people are being taken to Russia to work for the state in "depressed areas".
Mr Orlov told The Sun : “Russian troops are bursting into cellars and basements where our people are hiding like frightened mice and telling them: ‘You have 15 minutes to leave.’
“If they refuse to come out the buildings are destroyed, leaving families entombed.
"We have made contact with people who have told us what is happening — they are being taken off to Russia to work for the state in depressed areas."
He described it as "forced labour", saying civilians are being made to work for Russia in order to survive.
Mr Orlov also claimed children were being separated from their parents when being taken from the city, saying hundreds of youngsters "from kindgergarten age upwards" are being held at a hospital in Donetsk.
He said Russia is "trying everything they can to break us".
The United Nations has confirmed 1,119 civilian deaths and 1,790 injuries across Ukraine - but says the real toll is likely to be higher.
Yesterday Ukraine said 139 children had been killed and more than 205 wounded so far in the conflict.
Mariupol, located between Crimea and eastern areas held by Russian-backed separatists, has been devastated by weeks of heavy bombardment.
Thousands of residents are sheltering in basements with scarce water, food, medicine or power.
The Ukrainian President is willing to meet Moscow on some of its demands if Russian troops withdraw from the country, he has revealed.
Volodymyr Zelensky told a group of Russian independent journalists on Sunday that Kyiv was prepared to become neutral and meet Moscow on some of its demands.
It would abandon its drive to join NATO and vow not to develop nuclear weapons, on the basis that Russia would withdraw troops and give Kyiv security guarantees.
No peace deal would be possible without a ceasefire and withdrawal of troops, he said, though he ruled out trying to recapture all Russian-held territory by force, saying it "would lead to a third world war".
The aim, he said, was to reach a “compromise” over the eastern Donbas region, held by Russian-backed forces since 2014.
