Children under Rubble after Russian Airstrike on Maternity Hospital, Says Zelenskiy

THE GUARDIAN: Authorities say at least 17 wounded including women in labour as shelling again halts evacuations

Russian bombs have “completely destroyed” a children’s and maternity hospital in Mariupol, Ukrainian authorities have said, as shelling again halted mass evacuations from several cities, including the devastated southern port where conditions are described as “apocalyptic”.

As Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmitryo Kuleba, accused Russia of “holding 400,000 people hostage” in Mariupol, much of whose population has been without power, heat, water or phone signal for over a week, the president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, denounced an atrocity.

“Mariupol. Direct strike of Russian troops at the maternity hospital,” Zelenskiy tweeted. “People, children are under the wreckage. Atrocity! How much longer will the world be an accomplice ignoring terror? Stop the killings! You have the power but you seem to be losing humanity.” With video » | Luke Harding in Lviv, Julian Borger in Washington, and Jon Henley | Wednesday, March 9, 2022

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