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Maternity hospital occupied by Azov battalion, claims Russian foreign minister Lavrov after strike

WION Web Team
MoscowUpdated: Mar 11, 2022, 03:16 PM IST
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Photograph:(AFP)

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Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack on the children's hospital in Mariupol  a 'war crime'

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

As the strike at children's hospital in Mariupol was condemned worldwide, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov claimed it was a base for the ultra-radical Azov battalion.

"This maternity hospital has long been occupied by the Azov Battalion and other radicals. They drove out the women in labour, nurses and general staff. It was the base of the ultra-radical Azov battalion," Lavrov said after Mariupol's maternity hospital was attacked.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack a "war crime". The Ukraine President claimed it was a  "direct strike by Russian troops" even as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also accused Russia of "war crimes".

"We're seeing how hospitals are being bombed. They are attacking civil society in an indiscriminate manner, therefore clearly violating human rights and more than likely committing war crimes," PM Pedro Sanchez said.

After the strike was reported on Wednesday, the Kremlin had said it would ask the military for more details. Reports said at least three people were killed, including a young girl after the children's hospital was hit.

Watch: Capital Kyiv turns fortress as families flee

Mariupol city council said the "Russian forces are destroying Mariupol's civilian population deliberately and without mercy". The city has witnessed heavy bombardment by Russian forces over the past nine days. The city council said at least 1,200 people have been killed amid the Russian siege.

As the war entered the third week on Thursday, Lavrov said Russia wanted continued dialogue with Ukraine. However, Ukraine's foreign minister Kuleba declared that "Ukraine has not surrendered, does not surrender, and will not surrender" even as reports claimed Russian forces were near capital Kyiv.

President Zelensky said 35,000 civilians had managed to flee cities amid the Russian attack. Several thousand refugees have poured into neighbouring Poland and Romania as the UN said over 2 million people had fled the country.

(With inputs from Agencies)