Russia says it will give civilians safe passage on Friday, but Ukrainian fighters must surrender.
A third operation to pull civilians from Mariupol is due on Friday, the UN says, as more fighting was reported for control of a steelworks where the last Ukrainian defenders are holding out.UN chief Antonio Guterres said everything should be done to "get people out of these hellscapes".
The Russian president has already declared victory in Mariupol, ordering his forces to seal off the sprawling industrial site - which was designed during the Cold War to serve as a nuclear bunker and has a network of tunnels deep below ground - rather than try to take control of it. The Azov regiment released drone footage showing explosions at the steelworks, but the date of the footage could not be verified. Earlier on Thursday Sviatoslav Palamar, an Azov regiment commander, said Ukrainian defenders were fighting "difficult, bloody battles" with Russian troops who had managed to enter part of the complex.
Mr Guterres said a third operation to evacuate civilians from the city was under way and would arrive in the city on Friday. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on social media that this would happen at about midday.At least 20 children are thought to be among the remaining civilians in the steelworks, and food and water supplies are dwindling fast.
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