The government of Ukraine on Saturday claimed that the Russian military had bombed an ancient mosque sheltering more than 80 adults and children in Mariupol.
A statement from the Ukrainian foreign ministry said, “The mosque of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife Roxolana (Hurrem Sultan) in Mariupol was shelled by Russian invaders.
“More than 80 adults and children are hiding there from the shelling, including citizens of Turkey.”
It’s not clear whether there have been any fatalities in the Russian shelling of the mosque. The Ukrainian government has also not shared any fresh visuals from the site of the shelling.
The mosque of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife Roxolana (Hurrem Sultan) in Mariupol was shelled by Russian invaders.
More than 80 adults and children are hiding there from the shelling, including citizens of Turkey. #StopRussianAggression#closeUAskyNOW pic.twitter.com/Uel5AoyZUt
— MFA of Ukraine ???????? (@MFA_Ukraine) March 12, 2022
According to some media reports, 1,500 people have lost their lives in the Russian military strikes in Mariupol in the last two weeks. At least three people were reported to have been killed after the Russian forces allegedly attacked a maternity hospital in the area recently.
The World Health Organisation has said that the Russian military has targeted a dozen hospitals since they invaded Ukraine on 24 February.