More than 2,000 civilians have been killed in the occupied Ukrainian port city of Mariupol so far, local authorities said on Tuesday.
According to the Mariupol city council, 2,357 people have been killed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24.
The city of 400,000 people in South-East Ukraine has been surrounded by Russian troops for days and cut off from the rest of the country.
Authorities in Ukraine reported heavy aerial attacks on the city on the Sea of Azov.
Many people regard Mariupol as a symbol of Ukrainian resistance.
Petro Andriushchenko, the mayor’s advisor in Mariupol, described the city’s situation as “inhumane.”
“No food, no water, no light, no heat”.
He said he fears there will be many more deaths.
“With the increasing intensity of attacks, the number of deaths could reach 20,000,” he said.
Casualty figures cannot be independently verified.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky said 100 tons of food, water and medications for Mariupol had already been prevented from entering the city for three days.
”The government in Kiev will try everything it can to help the people,” he added.