Regardless of how justified one believes Putin to be in his invasion of Ukraine, bombing designated shelters is not in accordance with the laws and customs of war.

Liudmyla Denisova, the Ukrainian parliament’s commissioner for human rights, said adults and children were coming out alive but the full extent of the impact remained unclear.

She wrote on Telegram:

In Mariupol, the release of civilians from the rubble of the drama theater has begun.

The building withstood the impact of a high-powered air bomb and protected the lives of people hiding in the bomb shelter. Work is underway to unlock the basement.

Women, children, and the elderly are never justifiable military targets.

Terms are not needed for a ceasefire. All that is required is a simple order given to all combatants: “Stop. Now.”

A ceasefire means you cease firing. That is what needs to happen in Ukraine, for everyone to cease firing.