Mariupol children’s hospital ‘completely destroyed’ by Russian bombing

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A children’s hospital in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol has been destroyed by Russian air strikes, officials say.

At least 17 people have been wounded including women in labor and staff, according to the Ukrainian military administration in the eastern Donetsk region.

The city council said the damage was “colossal”.

Russian forces dropped “several bombs” and also hit a maternity ward, it said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said there were children beneath the rubble.

He tweeted: “Mariupol. Direct strike of Russian troops at the maternity hospital. People, children are under the wreckage.

“Atrocity! How much longer will the world be an accomplice ignoring terror? Close the sky right now! Stop the killings! You have power but you seem to be losing humanity.”

(NEXTA)

Ukrainian MP Dmytro Gurin shared footage of the damage on twitter, and said people had been pulled from the rubble.

The reports could not immediately be verified. Russia has denied targeting civilians.

Its troops have been laying siege to the southern port city for days.

Thousands of people have been without power, sanitation and basic necessities for almost a week.

Bodies have been left lying on the street, and there are fires burning across the city.

According to president Zelensky, a child died of dehydration after the Russian military cut off the water supply.

There have been several attempts to get trapped residents out, but Ukraine says Russian shelling is still stopping people from leaving.

Ukraine: President Zelensky said the Russian military shelled a maternity hospital in Mariupol

(Volodymyr Zelensky/Twitter)

It has accused Russian forces of breaking agreement agreements and bombing an evacuation route for civilians.

Ukraine’s foreign minister said Russia was holding over 400,000 residents “hostage” in the city, blocking aid and escape routes.

Dmytro Kuleba wrote on twitter: “Indiscriminate shelling continues. Almost 3,000 newborn babies lack medicine and food. I urge the world to act.”

Capturing Mariupol could allow Moscow to establish a land corridor to Crimea, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014.

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