164. Shelling of hospital, forced evacuation through Russian Federation
Mariupol (Donetsk)
LOCATION: Mariupol (Donetsk)
DATE: March 2-late April, 2022
NUMBER OF WITNESSES: 1
SUMMARY: In the early days of the invasion, the Witness and her husband sought refuge in the basement of a maternity hospital in Mariupol. On March 8, 2022, the Witness observed that Russian forces occupied the hospital grounds. On March 22, the Witness suffered a concussion and others were injured by shrapnel from an explosion near the basement. The Witness spent around a month in the shelter, during which she and other civilians were interrogated by Russian forces. They were then forced out of the basement and instructed to evacuate through the Russian Federation.
WITNESSES
The Witness of the incident was a female civilian in her early 50s who lived in Mariupol at the time of the event. She worked as an entrepreneur and volunteer.
VICTIMS
The Victims of the incident include the Witness mentioned above as well as her husband. The Witness also noted that there were over a hundred people who also stayed in the basement, some of whom had been injured by the shelling.
ALLEGED PERPETRATORS
as described by the Witness(es)
The perpetrators were members of the internationally unrecognized “Donetsk People’s Republic” who wore unkempt uniforms and balaclavas. The Witness also noted the presence of Chechens, who had better-quality uniforms.