Thousands flee Mariupol as Russia devastates besieged city

There has also been intense fighting in the East and Southern Ukraine.

Mariupol has been cut off for days, but earlier today 2,000 cars carrying civilians were able to leave the southern port.

In Kharkiv, emergency workers trying to rescue victims of the shelling of a residential block came under fire themselves.

The Mayor of Kharkiv has said the city is under constant shelling by the Russians and that hundreds of buildings have been destroyed.