The Papers: ‘Welcome to hell’ as Putin ‘lays waste’ to Ukraine

The Daily Telegraph leads with what it calls the “surrender of Kherson” – declaring it the first city to fall into Russian hands.

The paper says it is a strategically important city which gives Vladimir Putin’s forces a key bridgehead to cross the river Dnieper.

The Telegraph also reports that the southern port city of Mariupol is being flattened, with its water and electricity supplies cut off, in what are described as “classic siege tactics”.

The paper says it has uncovered evidence of Russian war crimes including the destruction of maternity units. The city’s mayor tells the paper “their mission is to destroy us”.

The Times uses a picture of Ukrainian houses reduced to rubble to accompany its headline: “Putin lays waste to cities”. It says Russian forces have pulverised schools, hospitals and homes across the country.

The paper also says Mariupol came under indiscriminate shelling and describes hospitals there as “overflowing with dead and wounded”.

The growing humanitarian crisis is the focus for the Guardian, which reports the deaths of hundreds of civilians in what it describes as “relentless missile attacks”.

A representative of the World Health Organization tells the paper that health service provisions are being moved to shelters and basements – and they are concerned about electricity supply, oxygen and medicines.

The Daily Mail reveals that the Duchess of Cornwall has given what it says is a “substantial donation” to the paper’s refugee appeal.

The Daily Mirror and the i both carry photos of a baby born in a bomb shelter in Kyiv in recent days. The Mirror’s headline is the plea: “For his sake, for his future… stop”. The i’s headline sums up the plight of the newborn being cradled by his mum as: “Welcome to hell.”

The front page story for the Daily Express is what it calls “broken Russian soldiers” who have been captured by the Ukrainian army. It describes “weeping prisoners” who claim they were deceived into fighting President Putin’s war.

They have told their captors they had no idea they were being sent to invade a “brother nation” and did not have the heart to fight.

The Times describes how a captured soldier burst into tears when he was allowed to speak to his mother on the phone. The paper says he was comforted by a Ukrainian woman who told him everything would be ok, while another stroked his back.

Roman Abramovich’s decision to sell Chelsea Football Club after almost 20 years is widely discussed on the front and back pages.

The Financial Times says the Russian oligarch has pledged to donate the proceeds to victims of the war in Ukraine and waived a loan to the club of £1.5bn.

The Telegraph reports that the Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss and American businessman Todd Boehly have teamed up to make an offer for the club.

The Sun describes Mr Abramovich as a “panicking billionaire” worried about sanctions, adding that he has refused to condemn the actions of President Putin. The Sun’s emphatic headline tells him to “Clear offski”.