Russia have shelled a mosque in Mariupol where children were taking cover, Ukraine’s foreign ministry has claimed.
“The mosque of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife Roxolana (Hurrem Sultan) in Mariupol was shelled by Russian invaders,” the foreign ministry said in a tweet.
“More than 80 adults and children are hiding there from the shelling, including citizens of Turkey.”
It comes as the “bulk” of Russian forces are approaching Kyiv - just 25km (15 miles) away, the UK’s Ministry of Defence has said.
Earlier on, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of kidnapping the mayor of the southern port city of Melitopol.
“They have transitioned into a new stage of terror, in which they try to physically liquidate representatives of Ukraine’s lawful local authorities,” Mr Zelensky said in a video address.
Kirill Timoshenko, the deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential office, posted a video on the social media site Telegram which he said showed a group of armed men carrying mayor Ivan Fedorov across a square.
