RUSSIA SHELLS MOSQUE HOUSING 80 CIVILIANS INCLUDING CHILDREN IN MARIUPOL

Sat 12 March 2022:

According to Ukraine’s foreign ministry, Russian soldiers shelled a mosque in Mariupol, a southern Ukrainian port city, where more than 80 adults and children had sought safety.

Turkish citizens were among those seeking refuge in the mosque when it was bombed, according to the government.

“The mosque of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife Roxolana (Hurrem Sultan) in Mariupol was shelled by Russian invaders,” the foreign ministry said. “More than 80 adults and children are hiding there from the shelling, including citizens of Turkey.”

The mosque of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife Roxolana (Hurrem Sultan) in Mariupol was shelled by Russian invaders.

More than 80 adults and children are hiding there from the shelling, including citizens of Turkey. #StopRussianAggression #closeUAskyNOW pic.twitter.com/Uel5AoyZUt

— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) March 12, 2022

It did not say if there were any people killed or wounded.

Moscow has denied targeting civilian areas in what it calls a special military operation in Ukraine.

Ukraine has accused Russia of refusing to allow people out of Mariupol, where a blockade has left hundreds of thousands trapped. Russia blames Ukraine for the failure to evacuate people.

Mariupol has been under siege and bombardment for more than two weeks and is encircled by Russian troops.

The situation in the strategic port city was “desperate”, where civilians have been desperately trying to flee, but were without water or heating, and running out of food, a top Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF) executive said on Friday.

Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted on Friday: “Besieged Mariupol is now the worst humanitarian catastrophe on the planet. 1,582 dead civilians in 12 days.”

Three people, including a child, were killed when a children’s hospital in the city was attacked on Wednesday, sparking international outrage.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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