New satellite images revealing the scale of destruction caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine show a residential area on fire and the word “children” written in Russian in front of a theater which was later bombed.

An image captured Monday by Maxar Technologies, a geospatial intelligence company based in Colorado in the United States, shows a theater in Mariupol with the Russian word for children written in large white letters on the floor outside – in an apparent effort to deter an attack.

Hundreds of civilians had taken refuge in the theater, Ukrainian officials said, and it is now feared they could be trapped or killed after the attack on the location on Wednesday night.

Civilians had sought safety in theater amid Russia’s three-week siege of the strategic Sea port city of Azov.

Elsewhere, a satellite image from Wednesday shows flames coming out of buildings in a residential area northeast of Chernihiv.

Another photo taken above the beleaguered city in northern Ukraine, also taken on Wednesday, shows an athletics track and training center with a large crater in the middle of its sports ground.

In the southern town of Volnovakha, before and after images show how a local neighborhood turned from green to a blackened hue.

A comparison between July 2021 and March 14, 2022 shows damage to homes and other buildings, with several roofs collapsed and debris strewn across the area.

Volnovakha was surrounded by Russian forces and came under continuous attack.

An area around Volnovakha station can also be considered damaged, with more collapsed roofs, debris and dark spots where there were previously green trees.

On Wednesday, Britain’s mission to the United Nations said Russia was “committing war crimes and targeting civilians”.

US President Joe Biden also condemned Russia’s actions, calling the country’s President Vladimir Putin a “war criminal” on Wednesday.