In response to Russia's request, Ukraine refuses to surrender Mariupol by Monday

In exchange for safe passage of residents out of Mariupol, Ukraine has rejected Russia's demand that it surrender the eastern port city by 5 a.m. Moscow time on March 21.

Ukrainska Pravda quotes Iryna Vereshchuk, Ukraine's deputy prime minister, as saying, "There should be no surrender, no laying down of arms.". This information has already been shared with the Russian side."

Pyotr Andryushenko, an adviser to the mayor of Mariupol, said earlier on Sunday that Russia cannot be trusted when it comes to humanitarian corridors, and vowed that Mariupol would continue to defend itself from an invasion led by Moscow.

“We will fight until the last of our soldiers,” he told the BBC’s Newshour.

"What are they really doing when they [Russian forces] talk about humanitarian corridors?" Andryushenko says they force people to evacuate to Russia.

Earlier evacuation efforts have also been hindered by steady shelling from the Russians. A theater in the city sheltering thousands of people was hit by a powerful Russian air strike last week.

A Russian military attack on an art school housing 400 people was also reported by Mariupol authorities on Sunday. Reports have not stated the number of casualties.

The Russian government on Sunday urged Ukrainian forces to lay down their arms in the besieged port city, saying a "terrible humanitarian catastrophe" was taking place.

21 March 2022