Russia has given the city until 12pm to surrender
A provisional agreement is in place between Russia and Ukraine to allow 6,000 citizens to leave Mariupol.
Earlier, Ukraine accused Russian troops of bombing a make-shift hospital where 300 people were sheltering.
If the city falls, it would be Moscow's biggest victory so far.
Russia has given the besieged port city until midday Irish time to surrender.
But Sergei Orlov, the deputy mayor of Mariupol, is sceptical of Moscow's offer:
The former British Ambassador to Ukraine, Leigh Turner, says there's still chance of further escalation: