Ukrainian couple describe escape from ‘real hell’ of Mariupol

Victor Mayevsky is now safe in Poland with his 63-year-old wife, Valentina, after enduring weeks of “constant” shelling, freezing temperatures and severe food and water shortages

Amid shelling and limited communications, Victor and Valentina Mayevsky managed to send this picture of themselves to their daughter to let her know they were alive (Victor Mayevsky)

A Ukrainian man who escaped Mariupol has described life in the city as “real hell” after he witnessed blood and body parts covering its streets and Russian bombs destroying his neighbourhood.

Victor Mayevsky, 62, is now safe in Poland with his 63-year-old wife, Valentina, after enduring weeks of “constant” shelling, freezing temperatures and severe food and water shortages in the besieged city in south-eastern Ukraine.