KYIV (Reuters) - The mayor of the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol on Monday said that about 40,000 civilians had been forcibly moved to Russia or Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine.

       "Unfortunately I have to declare that as of today they are forcibly deporting" residents, Vadym Boichenko told Ukrainian television. "We have verified through the municipal register that they have already deported over 40,000 people."

       It was not possible for Reuters to independently confirm the allegation. Russia has denied targetting civilians in Ukraine.

       (Reporting by Max Hunder; Writing by Conor Humphries; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)