Ukrainian General Staff detects Russian troops advancing in east and Mariupol

The Ukrainian General Staff reported on Sunday that Russian troops are continuing to advance across eastern Ukraine, including the port city of Mariupol, which Russia has urged to surrender.

"The enemy is continuing its air strikes on Mariupol and the rest of the Donetsk region," Ukrainian military sources said on Facebook.

Defence sources said they had managed to repel successive air strikes on the capital, Kiev.

Russia last night urged the Ukrainian military in the besieged city of Mariupol to cease hostilities and lay down their arms as of 06:00 Moscow time (03:00 GMT) and assured that their lives would be guaranteed.

In a message yesterday, Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky described the situation in the port city as "inhuman" and accused Russia of "destroying" everything in its path.

The Ukrainian leader had warned in an earlier message, also on Saturday, that Russia's "elimination" of its soldiers resisting in Mariupol would mean "the end of any peace negotiations".

Mariupol, on the Sea of Azov, is one of the strategic goals of the Russians in their effort to gain full control of the Donbas region and form a land corridor in the east of the country from the annexed Crimean peninsula.

According to its mayor's office, up to 20,000 civilians have died in the city since the Russian invasion began.

The Ukrainian authorities estimate that some 120,000 civilians remain in the besieged city, which is defended by the Azov Regiment, the Marines and other forces.

According to Kiev estimates, on the 53rd day since the start of the Russian invasion, some 20,300 casualties have been recorded among the Russian army, including dead, wounded or imprisoned.