A Russian airstrike on a theatre in Mariupol has left hundreds dead, according to Ukrainian officials.
As Russia's invasion of Ukraine surpasses a month, airstrikes have continued to rain down on the country, destroying hospitals, whole cities and leaving civilians fleeing to shelters or desperately trying to leave the country.
The Drama Theatre of Mariupol was housing hundreds of civilians including children. On 16 March, it was hit by a deadly airstrike and the anticipated death toll has since been released.
At least 300 people are anticipated as having been killed by the airstrike on the theatre, according to eyewitness reports released by officials.
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Satellite images showed that the word 'children' had been written outside the building to indicate who was inside to Russian forces, as per Sky News.
In a statement released to Telegram, Mariupol City Council said: "Unfortunately, we start this day with bad news.
"Eyewitnesses reported that about 300 people died in the Mariupol Drama Theatre as a result of the bombing by a Russian plane. I do not want to believe in this horror to the last.
"Until the last I want to believe that everyone managed to escape. But the words of those who were inside the building at the time of this terrorist act say the opposite."
A mother who had been hiding in the theatre for 10 days with her 17-year-old son told the BBC: "We jumped in a car while the theatre and the area were being shelled.
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"We asked to go with them, because we didn't have our own [car]."
Just five days ago, Ukraine claimed an art school in Mariupol was also bombed by Russian forces. The school was sheltering 400 civilians, according to local authorities.
Last week, footage also emerged of a heavily pregnant woman being stretchered out of a maternity ward which was also targeted.
The woman and her baby passed away shortly after being rescued.
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Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy reflected on the bombing of the Mariupol theatre, stating that his 'heart breaks'.
Mariupol's city council accused Russia of 'deliberately and cynically destroying' the theatre and called the attack a 'war crime'.
It concluded: "Women, children, and the elderly remain in the enemy's sights. These are completely unarmed peaceful people. We will never forgive and never forget."
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Poppy Bilderbeck