The deputy mayor of the besieged city of Mariupol in southern Ukraine has told the BBC, three people – including one child – were killed when Russia bombed a maternity hospital on Wednesday.
At least seventeen others were reportedly injured, some of whom included pregnant women.
“I’m absolutely sure they know about this facility and this is their third hospital that they are destroying in this city,” Sergei Orlov told the BBC.
He said a 300-bed hospital dedicated to treating Covid patients had been destroyed by artillery shelling the previous day, along with a blood-collection centre in Mariupol.
“I’m absolutely sure (these are their) targets,” Orlov added.
The World Health Organization says it’s verified at least 18 different attacks on health facilities in Ukraine since the invasion began.
Russia insists Ukrainian fighters had moved staff and patients out of the hospital and set up firing positions there.
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has accused Russia of committing a war crime.
