The badly damaged interior of a theatre in Mariupol bears testimony to the scale of Russian attacks on the Ukrainian port city.

Ukrainian authorities said about1,000 people had sought shelter in the theatre as Russian forces destroyed the city.

On March , an attack was carried out on the theatre, despite the fact the word 'children' had been written in enormous letters on the ground outside to indicate families were sheltering there.

"From witnesses comes information that about 300 people died in the Mariupol Drama Theatre as a result of the bombing by a Russian plane," the Mariupol city council said in a statement.

Russia denies bombing the building, and the Kremlin maintains Russian forces have not targeted civilians.

[abc.net.au]