Russia Crowds 500 Civilians into Mariupol Hospital, Using Them as 'Human Shields'

Governor Krilenko: "A Heinous Crime Against Human Rights"
"Medical Staff Treating Patients in Underground Temporary Ward"

On the 15th (local time), soldiers in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, are inspecting the rubble of an apartment destroyed by indiscriminate shelling from Russian forces. This is not directly related to any specific expression in the article.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Jeong-wan] Russian forces are reportedly forcing 500 civilians into a critical care hospital in the southern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, using them as "human shields," claimed Pavlo Kyrylenko, governor of Donetsk Oblast, on the 15th (local time).

According to the Associated Press, Governor Kyrylenko stated on Telegram that "Russian forces have forced 400 residents into the hospital," adding, "There are also 100 medical staff and patients inside the hospital."

He said, "It seems they are using hostages as human shields. Despite heavy attacks, they cannot leave the hospital," and called it "a heinous crime against human rights," urging a global response.

Governor Kyrylenko added that the hospital building in question has been severely damaged by shelling, and "medical staff are treating patients in an underground temporary ward."

In Mariupol, where Russian forces have been conducting intense siege attacks for over two weeks, the death toll is already estimated to have reached 2,500.

Russian forces are indiscriminately shelling the children's hospital, maternity hospital, and mosques in Mariupol.

The U.S. internet media Axios reported that as the siege continues, residents are suffering from shortages of drinking water, food, and medicine, and are shivering from the cold due to heating being cut off.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the Russian shelling of the hospital as a "war crime" and accused it of being "evidence of genocide taking place in Ukraine."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.