Russian occupying forces in Mariupol carry out shelling every half hour – mayor

Russian occupying forces are shelling Mariupol non-stop during the day, taking only a 30-minute break.

Source: Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko

Quote from Boychenko: "They are cynically firing prohibited Grad rockets and howitzers on residential areas.

"Today, they cynically fired on the State Emergency Services.

"Every 30 minutes, aircraft flew over the city, working residential areas and killing civilians: the elderly, women and children.

"Is this the greatness of the Russian army today?"

Details: The mayor said that Russian forces had fired on humanitarian convoys and the 'green corridor' for civilians. According to the mayor, while Russian forces assure Ukrainian authorities that it is safe to travel, they immediately fire.

Background: 

• On 10 March, Mariupol was once again unable to deliver humanitarian aid due to provocations and shelling from Russian forces. Similarly, Ukrainian authorities were unable to organise a civilian evacuation, despite agreements with Russian forces on evacuation routes and times through a so-called "green corridor" the day before. On the morning of 10 March, Russian aircraft struck another residential area of the city.
• On 9 March, Russian aeroplanes dropped several powerful bombs on a maternity ward and children's hospital in the centre of Mariupol. Initially, 17 injuries were reported, but on the morning of 10 March, information emerged of three deaths, including children.
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russian forces had deliberately bombed the maternity hospital in Mariupol. Russian propagandists justified the aerial assaults on the maternity hospital with disinformation that no doctors, mothers or children were present but rather "Nazis" who had set up firing positions in the hospital.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the attack on the maternity hospital was "final proof" of Russia's genocide against Ukraine. Polish leaders also said that the bombing of maternity wards and residential areas by Russian forces showed signs of genocide. US authorities compared the blockade of Mariupol to the Nazi blockade of Leningrad (modern-day Saint Petersburg), Russia, during World War II.
• According to preliminary estimates by Mariupol's city council, about 1,300 civilians have died thus far in the 10 days that Mariupol has been blockaded.