What Russians are interpreting as humanitarian aid Ukrainians are seeing as a war crime
Thousands of civilians in Mariupol have been forcibly evacuated by Russian forces according to Ukrainian government officials.
A temporary camp has been set up in Bezimenne, just east of Mariupol housing approximately 5,000 Ukrainians.
Meanwhile Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister claims 40,000 people have been unwillingly moved from Ukraine to Russian-held territory.
This was all done by Russia without any coordination with Kyiv.
Refugees are claiming that this was done against their will and that they were “taken forcibly”.
Some Ukrainian officials have compared this to Russia’s actions in their war in Chechnya when many Chechens disappeared following intense interrogations.
Russia is being accused again of abusing human rights by deporting civilians to its territory.
This all follows weeks of Russian shelling in Mariupol.
Around 140,000 civilians managed to flee but it’s estimated that around 170,000 remain trapped in the city with limited food, water and medical supplies.
Some humanitarian corridors were established to help evacuate Ukrainians but they have continued to be under fire.
But many civilians in Russian-controlled parts of Mariupol are left with limited options with many hungry, thirsty and even sick.
Refugees have been taken to the Donetsk People’s Republic and once there were made to choose between staying in the region or moving on to Russia.
Russia is denying that it is forcibly removing thousands of Ukrainians from the country.
