Ukrainian authorities have “resolutely” rejected Russia’s ultimatum for Mariupol. “There will be no surrender or laying down of arms,” Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk told the Ukrajinska Pravda newspaper.

The message is said to have already been passed on to the Russians.

The Russian defence ministry had given Kyiv until 5 a.m. Moscow time on Monday morning to confirm that it had ordered its “fighters” in the besieged city of Mariupol to lay down their arms.

In an eight-page letter, Moscow had said that in that case, the “Ukrainian nationalists” would have the chance to leave Mariupol unarmed through humanitarian corridors between 10 a.m. and 12 noon Moscow time on Monday.

But the Ukrainians do not intend to comply with that demand. “Just open a corridor instead of wasting your time on an eight-page letter,” Vereshchuk quoted herself from her reply to the opponents.