Ukraine: US condemns 'unconscionable' forced deportations of civilians from Mariupol
Ukraine: US condemns unconscionable forced deportations of civilians from Mariupol
Unconfirmed reports of thousands being transported to Russia emerge after Russia accused of bombing art school where residents were sheltering
Lorenzo Tondo in Lviv, Jon Henley and Daniel Boffey
Sun 20 Mar 2022 13.40 EDT
Forced civilian deportations from Mariupol to Russia are disturbing and unconscionable if true, the US has said, after Ukrainian officials accused Moscow of transporting thousands of people against their will out of the devastated port city.
On Sunday evening, the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti said it would be opening a humanitarian corridor out of the heavily shelled city from 10am local time on Monday. Moscow also demanded defenders of Mariupol surrender and laid down their arms by 5am.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Americas ambassador to the UN, said the US had not yet confirmed the allegations, made on Saturday by Mariupol city council and repeated in detail on Sunday by Ukraines human rights spokesperson, Lyudmyla Denisova.
Ive only heard it. I cant confirm it, Thomas-Greenfield told CNN. But I can say it is disturbing. It is unconscionable for Russia to force Ukrainian citizens into Russia and put them in what will basically be concentration and prisoner camps.
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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/20/russia-bombed-mariupol-art-school-sheltering-400-people-says-ukraine