“We can’t leave”: Russians accused of holding hospital staff and patients “hostage”
Officials of Ukraine’s besieged city Mariupol have claimed that 400 hospital staff and patients have been taken as “hostages” by Russian forces.
“We received information that the Russian army captured our biggest hospital,” Sergei Orlov, Mariupol’s deputy mayor, told the BBC.
Pavlo Kirilenko, the head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration, took to Facebook to share an account from a hospital employee who managed to communicate with authorities.
“Russian occupiers in Mariupol took doctors and patients hostage,” Mr Kirilenko wrote.
“One of the hospital employees had time to pass this news.
“‘It is impossible to get out of the hospital. There is heavy shooting, we sit in the basement. Vehicles have not been able to drive to the hospital for two days.
“‘The Russians forced 400 people from neighbouring houses to come to our hospital. We can’t leave’.”
Mr Kirilenko added that the hospital had been “practically destroyed” by the Russian forces, but that staff have continued to work and treat patients in the basement.
“I appeal to international human rights organisations to respond to these vicious violations of the norms and customs of war, to these blatant crimes against humanity,” he said.
“Russia and every citizen involved in crimes in Ukraine must be punished!”
Mr Kirilenko said the hospital holding the “hostages” was the same one that was damaged by a strike last week, as Mariupol continued to suffer constant shelling.
Russian troops have surrounded the city for nearly two weeks, with gas, running water and electricity cut off to the estimated 350,000 residents trapped there.
The local council said about 2,000 cars left the city on Tuesday, with 2,000 others waiting to leave.
However, as food and medical supplies dwindle, no aid has been allowed in.
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