Russia has demanded the surrender of the last remaining Ukrainian troops in Mariupol, with the city on the verge of collapse.
Moscow has said it will spare the lives of troops held in a blocked steel plant – but only if they surrender by 11 a.m. GMT.
Earlier, Russia said it had cleared the Mariupol metropolitan area, an allegation that cannot be verified independently.
If it falls, Mariupol will be the first major city to be conquered by Russia.
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Russia says the surrender deal is guided by purely humane principles
Under the terms of a surrender deal offered by Moscow, Ukrainian fighters have a window from 4 a.m. GMT to 11 a.m. GMT to leave the Azovstal plant without weapons or ammunition.
The beginning of the capitulation will be marked by the raising of flags, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced.
Moscow said the terms of the proposed surrender deal were “guided by purely humane principles” due to a “catastrophic situation”.
Ukrainian fighters have previously been trapped in underground tunnels and bunkers in another steel mine in the city, but Russia says it took over on Friday.
The factory was turned into explosive concrete and twisted steel, while several bodies of civilians were spotted on nearby streets, Reuters reported.
Image: Remains of vehicles at the Ilyich steel plant Image: Russia claims to have cleared Mariupol’s urban areas
Finding a solution to the Mariupol bombing is “extremely difficult”
In a night address, the Ukrainian president said the situation in Mariupol was “inhumane” and “remains as severe as possible”.
“The Russian Federation did this on purpose,” Vladimir Zelensky said.
“It deliberately continues to destroy cities. Russia is deliberately trying to destroy everyone there in Mariupol. “
Mr Zelenski added that he continued to push Western leaders for more lethal aid so that “we can reduce the occupiers’ pressure on Mariupol and unblock it”.
Image: Russian military convoy in motion near Mariupol
“There is not a day after the blockade of Mariupol in which we have not sought a solution,” he said.
“Military or diplomatic – everything to save people. But finding this solution is extremely difficult. So far there is no 100% valid option.”
In its quest to take the city of Mariupol, Russia has suffered the loss of Major General Vladimir Frolov, considered the eighth Russian general killed in the war.
Major General Frolov, deputy commander of the 8th Army, “died a heroic death in battle,” Governor Alexander Beglov said.
He was buried Saturday in St. Petersburg, and Russian media showed photos of his grave, strewn with red and white flowers.
Warning of new strikes on Kyiv
Elsewhere on Saturday, Kyiv and Kharkiv were hit by a series of long-range missile attacks.
A mother cried over her 15-year-old son’s body after rockets hit a residential area in Kharkiv.
One baby and at least eight others died, Ukrainian authorities said.
A strike in Kyiv killed one person and injured several others, the mayor said.
“We do not rule out further strikes on the capital,” said Mayor Vitali Klitschko. “If you have the opportunity to stay a little longer in cities where it’s safer, do it.”
Russia’s Defense Ministry said it was targeting a plant for armored vehicles and other military sites with “high-precision, long-range weapons.”
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