Ukraine has rejected Russia’s demand that their forces in Mariupol lay down arms and raise white flags Monday in exchange for safe passage out of the besieged strategic port city. This comes as the city had come under heavy bombardment overningt. 

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Officials in Kyiv rejected Moscow’s proposal that offered a safe passage out of Mariupol. The deadline was set at 5 AM Moscow time (0200GMT). 

“There can be no talk of any surrender, laying down of arms. We have already informed the Russian side about this,” Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk told the news outlet Ukrainian Pravda. 

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Meanwhile, a Ukrainian officer in Mariupol told CNN that the city is being bombarded every 10 minutes. 

“Bombs are falling every 10 minutes; Russian navy warships are shelling. Yesterday the soldiers defused four tanks, [as well as] armored vehicles and troops. We still need ammunition, anti-tank weapons and air defense,” Captain Svyatoslav Palamar of the National Guard Azov Regiment in Mariupol told CNN.

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He further added that the Ukrainian forced will not surrender. Mariupol, a home to 450,000 people, witnessed a total collapse amid Russia’s attack. Residents are battling failed gas, electricity and water services. As per an official, quoted by CNN, people are scared to leave their underground shelters even to get hold of essentials. 

Russian Col. Gen. Mikhail Mizintsev had offered two corridors — one heading east toward Russia and the other west to other parts of Ukraine. He did not say what Russia planned if the offer was rejected.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said authorities in Mariupol could face a military tribunal if they sided with what it described as “bandits,” the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

Mariupol officials said at least 2,300 people have died in the siege, with some buried in mass graves.

On Sunday, the city council said that the residents were being taken to Russia against their will.