INTERNATIONAL: Rescue workers retrieved the bodies of Mariupol's dead on Thursday 21st April as Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the port city of Mariupol "liberated" after nearly two months of siege. Around 120,000 civilians are blocked from leaving.

Footage from the devastated port city showed bodies being collected by men in white hazmat suits and being placed into the back of vehicles marked with the letter 'Z'. It was unclear where the bodies were being taken.

The remainder of Ukrainian troops in Mariupol is now holed up in the Azovstal steel plant from where they are resisting Russian siege.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, “The situation is difficult as you know. The situation is bad. We believe it did not change since yesterday. As you know, several thousands of people are blocked, including serviceman and civilians – women and children mainly. I also told the colleagues that nearly 120,000 civilians are blocked in Mariupol according to our estimations.”

Mariupol, once home to 400,000 people, has seen not only the most intense battle of the war that started when Russian forces invaded on Feb. 24, but also its worst humanitarian catastrophe.

^{PHOTO: PEOPLE WALKING IN MARIUPOL STREETS / DESTROYED RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS / EMERGENCY WORKERS COLLECTING BODIES OF PEOPLE KILLED DURING CONFLICT}