'Cruel illegal onslaught': EU urges Russia to allow Mariupol evacuations

By Agnes Szucs

BRUSSELS (AA) - EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Friday urged Russia to allow civilians to safely leave the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

In a statement, Borrell called Mariupol’s siege by Russian forces a “cruel illegal onslaught” that has led to “wide-scale destruction” under the Kremlin’s “twisted pretext of ‘liberating’ the city.”

He pointed out that over 100,000 civilians are still trapped in Mariupol amid “the Russia-inflicted” carnage, urging Moscow to allow them safe passage and open access for humanitarian aid.

Borrell also deplored the fact that “thousands of its inhabitants have been deported to Russia or forcibly displaced to the non-government controlled areas of Ukraine.”

Mariupol, an industrial hub and port city on the Black Sea coast, has been heavily attacked by Russian forces since the start of the war because of its geostrategic importance.

The Ukrainian government has repeatedly called on Russia to allow the safe evacuation of civilians from the city.

Since the war began on Feb. 24, the civilian death toll in Ukraine has climbed to 2,435, while 2,946 others have been injured, according to UN estimates, with the true figure feared to be much higher.

More than 5 million Ukrainians have fled to other countries, with over 7 million more internally displaced, the UN refugee agency has said.