Russia wants to destroy Mariupol, not capture it, says man who fled besieged cityArtur Shevchenko fled the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol three days ago, as Russian forces closed in.

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As Russian forces lay siege to Mariupol, Artur Shevchenko melted snow for water

CBC Radio(Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters)commentsThe Current5:06Russia wants to destroy Mariupol, not take it, says man who fled besieged city

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Despite being surrounded by Russian forces, the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol defiantly rejected the Kremlin's demand for surrenderMonday, even before the deadline passed.

"There can be no talk of any surrender, laying down of arms," Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk told the news outlet Ukrainian Pravda.

The city has suffered three weeks of bombings, including a strike on a maternity hospital, and public buildings where civilians were taking shelter. Electricity and communication lines have been cut off, and food and water is running low. Tens of thousands of Mariupol's 400,000 residents have fled the siege, with the Financial Times reporting that those who remain have been forced to slaughter stray dogs for food.

WATCH | Ukrainian officials reject Russian demand for surrender

Ukraine rejects Russia's demand for Mariupol surrender

1 day agoDuration 7:07Ukrainian officials have defiantly rejected a Russian demand that their forces in Mariupol lay down arms and raise white flags in exchange for safe passage out of the besieged city.This Toronto teacher uses a photo of his mom, asleep in a Kyiv subway station, to help kids understand the war

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