The Prosecutor General of the State of Ukraine, Irina VenediktovaHe stated on Monday that it cannot be ruled out that the crimes committed by the Russian army against the residents of the city of Mariupol reach the category of “genocide”. The prosecutor pointed out that there is a possibility that it is a genocide “when people are without water, without food, without heating, when there is no possibility of leaving, when the caravans that try to leave are shot at,” according to statements. quoted by the Ukrainian agency Unian.
Venediktova also referred to the deportations that, according to local authorities, are being carried out by Russian forces, which she said have already affected more than two thousand minors. “It is much more than a war crime”affirmed the attorney general, who opined that the goal of Russian President Vladimir Putin is to destroy Ukraine.
Russian forces have made little progress in capturing key cities, prompting them to resort to aerial bombardment of civilians. Venediktova assured in this sense that she had “evidence” of the use by Russian troops of cluster bombsprohibited by international treaties, in two regions of southern Ukraine.
The Ukrainian government assures that the city of Mariupol, besieged by Russian troops, is experiencing a “catastrophic” situation. “Some five thousand people were buried, but no one has been buried for ten days due to the continuous bombing”said Tetiana Lomakina, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidency. The official, now in charge of the humanitarian corridors, also estimated that “given the number of people who are still under the rubble, there could be some ten thousand dead.”
Mariupol, located on the shores of the Sea of Azov, has been besieged by the Russian army since the end of February, forcing thousands of residents to live in very precarious conditions, without electricity or drinking water. Russian media assured on Monday that Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov was in the city to support his troops, who are participating in the offensive with Russia to take control of the place.
If the city fell into Russian hands, it would allow its armed forces to connect Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014, with the pro-Russian breakaway regions of Donbass. Some 160 thousand civilians are still trapped in the city, without adequate food, water or medicineaccording to its mayor Vadim Boichenko.
Boichenko spoke of a “cynical game” because the Russian side talks about opening a corridor from Mariupol, but in fact does not allow it. “We live with this hope,” said the mayor of Mariupol, who in turn lamented that “under fire” it is very difficult to carry out the evacuation task.
“Not everything is in our hands, unfortunately today we are in the hands of the occupiers,” Boichenko acknowledged. For this reason, the mayor appealed to his “international partners” so that, in this case, they also collaborate in the rescue and evacuation of those who were left behind.
“Like tens of thousands of Mariupol residents, I hope that such a decision is possible. We look forward to our international partners. We cannot let go of that hope,” Boichenko explained, adding: “We are very hopeful that France and Turkey will come together and open up a stable ‘green corridor’ for us.and bring back those people who want to return to the controlled territory of Ukraine.”