Russian forces abduct staff, patients of Mariupol maternity hospital

That’s according to the Mariupol City Council, Ukrinform reports, referring to its press service.

"Another case of forcible deportation of Mariupol residents to the territory of the aggressor power… More than 70 people were forcibly removed from Maternity Hospital No. 2 in the Left Bank district – it's medical staff and patients," a statement reads.

The City Council stressed that Russian troops have been cynically deporting civilians to their territory. More than 20,000 Mariupol residents are believed to have been deported to Russia against their will. Citizens have their IDs taken from them before they are sent to the so-called filtration camps. Then they get redirected to remote cities across Russia. The principle of distribution and the reasons for the deportation remain unclear, the report reads.

According to Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko, what Russia is doing today violates internationally recognized human rights.

"It can be compared to the actions of fascist troops during World War 2. But we will not leave behind a single Mariupol resident who was deported to Russia by force. We are creating a database of deported residents and developing an effective mechanism for the return of our compatriots (…) We will do everything to bring people home," the mayor stressed.

As previously reported, staff and patients of City Hospital No. 1 – about 600 Mariupol residents.

Russian aggression caused a major humanitarian catastrophe in Mariupol. The invaders have been bombarding and shelling unarmed residents and blocking humanitarian aid.

According to Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko, as of March 27, the number of civilian casualties in Mariupol amounted to almost 5,000, including about 210 children. There are now about 160,000 civilians remaining Mariupol, blocked from fleeding the warzone by Russian invaders. The people are begging to be rescued.

The city of Mariupol has been turned into a huge ruin by Russian troops, with its residents fainting in the streets out of hunger and enemy bombs burying civilians alive in shelters.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk said that Russian troops had almost destroyed the city, so it is necessary to evacuate all civilians.