Russia opens fire on Mariupol evacuation convoy, Ukraine claims

By Bahtiyar Abdulkerimov

KYIV, Ukraine (AA) - Ukraine on Wednesday claimed Russian forces opened fire on an evacuation convoy of civilians fleeing the war in the southeastern Mariupol region.

In a statement, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said the Russian army fired rockets at the convoy heading west to the Zaporizhzhia region during the day.

It said preliminary data indicated that some of the evacuees, including children and wounded, had been killed in the attack.

Ukrainian authorities had announced on Tuesday that nearly 20,000 people were evacuated from Mariupol along a humanitarian corridor and that some of the evacuees went to Zaporizhzhia.

The Russia-Ukraine war, which began on Feb. 24, has drawn international condemnation, led to financial sanctions on Moscow, and spurred an exodus of global firms from Russia.

At least 726 civilians have been killed and 1,174 injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the war.

More than 3 million refugees have fled to neighboring countries, according to the UN.