The situation in a Ukrainian city under Russian siege is growing increasingly dire as officials open a mass gravesite.
Mariupol officials, faced with a rising death toll, have dug a trench over 82 feet wide in a cemetery, burying at least 70 bodies at the site as of Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.
HUMANITARIAN CONVOY SENT TO MARIUPOL TARGETED BY RUSSIAN GUNFIRE, UKRAINE SAYS
No family members were present, the outlet reported, as the bodies of civilian victims and soldiers were buried wrapped in carpets or bags.
Deputy Mayor of Mariupol Orlov Sergei said that more than a thousand people have been killed in the city, 47 of whom were buried in a mass grave on Wednesday as Russian fighting continues, according to the Guardian.
Sergei said residents dealing with depleting supplies have been drinking snow and burning firewood.
The news comes as officials report that civilians in the southeastern city in Ukraine have gone without water, food, and electricity for days as aid has been repeatedly blocked by continued gunfire in the direction of a humanitarian corridor.
Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba said Wednesday that 400,000 people in the city were being held “hostage” by Russia.
Russia continues holding hostage over 400.000 people in Mariupol, blocks humanitarian aid and evacuation. Indiscriminate shelling continues. Almost 3.000 newborn babies lack medicine and food. I urge the world to act! Force Russia to stop its barbaric war on civilians and babies!
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 9, 2022
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“Russia continues holding hostage over 400,000 people in Mariupol, blocks humanitarian aid and evacuation. Indiscriminate shelling continues. Almost 3,000 newborn babies lack medicine and food. I urge the world to act! Force Russia to stop its barbaric war on civilians and babies!” Kuleba said in a tweet.
