Harrowing photos show Ukrainians burying loved ones in mass graves after ‘apocalyptic’ Russian bombing in Mariupol

HARROWING pictures show corpses being put in body bags and dumped in mass graves following heavy shelling in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. Workers can be seen digging a 25m trench at one of the old cemeteries in the besieged port city, making the sign of the cross as they push the dead bodies into the pit. Mass graves for the dead in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol APAuthorities say more than 1,200 have been killed in Mariupol so far[/caption] RexBefore and after satellite images show the destruction to a Mariupol shopping centre[/caption] The corpses were wrapped in carpets or bags. It comes after Russia shelled a maternity hospital in Mariupol, killing three, including a six-year-old girl. A further 17 people were injured, including heavily-pregnant women. Mariupol’s deputy mayor Sergei Orlov said on Thursday: “The last information that we have about victims is that most of the visitors were in a bomb shelter,” he said. READ MORE ON UKRAINE “That’s why we have information about 17 injured people – and that’s mostly pregnant women and doctors who work in this hospital.” He went on: Orlov went on: “We had three buildings there, maternity hospital, children’s hospital and children’s therapy. “It’s good most of the visitors were in bomb shelters. We have more victims of this awful crime, so we transferred all of the suffered people and injured people to other hospitals, but this hospital was destroyed by Russian bombing for the last 5 days. “We don’t know where to put our injured people. We can confirm only the numbers (dead) the day before yesterday, so we have 1,207 civilians killed in Mariupol. Most read in The Sun EVIL UPON EVIL Girl, 6, among three killed in ‘genocidal’ airstrike on maternity hospital UN-FARE Ryanair cancels thousands of flights to top European summer holiday destination DARING DEM Love Island's Demi Jones wows in VERY revealing jumpsuit amid split rumours 'I am perfectly happy the way I am' Love Island's Millie Court denies she's pregnant SEA IT TO BELIEVE IT Katie Price reveals her biggest EVER boob job on a boat in Thailand 'SO LOVED' EastEnders star Jessie Wallace becomes a grandma at 50 as daughter gives birth “There are only bodies we can collect on the street and it’s not possible to bury them in private graves out of the city, that’s why we only have one possibility to bury them in mass graves and unfortunately, we cannot identify them all.” Orlov said 47 bodies were buried on Wednesday alone. “People are without water, heat, electricity, gas, residents are melting snow to drink,” he said. Around 200,000 are trying to escape the city, but with continued attacks on humanitarian corridors, only 2,000 to 3,000 have been able to leave each day. Horror footage showed the charred remains of the hospital with wounded staff and patients being rushed out of the building into a devastating scene of burning cars and smouldering rubble. The video showed holes where windows should have been in what appeared to be a badly damaged three-storey building at the hospital. A wounded mum-to-be, who was led out of the wrecked unit, was wrapped in a duvet to keep warm in the freezing temperatures. Read our Russia – Ukraine live blog for the very latest updates Shocking aerial satellite images show the extent of the devastation wrought on Mariupol in recent weeks. The first image, taken by private company Maxar, shows a shopping centre smouldering after intense shelling. Another photo reveals the destruction done to residential areas, where thousands have been left without heat, power, or water for more than a week. Many buildings have been completely flattened. Another image shows dozens of houses destroyed, with a neighbouring park appearing to be scorched by missiles. A nearby apartment block can be seen as heavily damaged. The roof of another mall is shown to have partially collapsed. It comes as… The CIA has warned a “desperate” Vladimir Putin could deploy mini-nukes to try and turn the invasion aroundRussian troops are stuck outside Kyiv and at risk of freezing to death as temperatures plunge to -20CBoxer Wladimir Klitschko says he’s in the “biggest fight of my life” against Vladimir Putin’s armyThousands of Ukrainian refugees could come to Britain as a new route to open ‘in days’Russian planes entering Britain’s air space could be seized under a new law announced by Transport Secretary Grant ShappsA serving Queen’s Guard, 19, has gone AWOL to fight in UkraineA little girl filmed singing ‘Let It Go’ in a Ukrainian bomb shelter has safely fled to Poland Mariupol’s worst shelling has taken place in the west of the city, with the Red Cross describing conditions as “apocalyptic”. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky branded yesterday’s attack a “genocide” and an “atrocity” and claimed children were left buried under the rubble. He shared a clip of the scene inside the hospital and urged the West to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine. The leader said: “Direct strike of Russian troops at the maternity hospital. People, children are under the wreckage. Atrocity! “How much longer will the world be an accomplice ignoring terror? Close the sky right now! Stop the killings! You have power but you seem to be losing humanity.” Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk described the situation as “catastrophic”. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Russia had breached the ceasefire and accused it of holding thousands hostage. “Russia continues holding hostage over 400,000 people in Mariupol, blocks humanitarian aid and evacuation. Indiscriminate shelling continues,” he tweeted. “Almost 3,000 newborn babies lack medicine and food.” It comes after an eight-year-old girl died of dehydration on Tuesday after Russian attacks left her without access to water, power, or heating. The little girl known as Tanya died in Mariupol after her mum was killed in Russian shelling. A Red Cross aid mission was allegedly hit by a Russian bomb in the city, amid reports victims of shelling are being buried in mass graves. APA 25m trench was dug for the bodies in the besieged port city[/caption] RexA residential area was also completely flattened[/caption] Cover ImagesA huge crater left by the hospital shelling[/caption] FacebookDebris can be seen outside the hospital[/caption] FacebookThe attack happened earlier today at a maternity ward in Mariupol[/caption] FacebookThe building has been damaged from the air strike[/caption] At least seventeen people were injured in the attack A burned car can be seen outside the building The hit destroyed the maternity hospital It comes after an eight-year-old girl died of dehydration on Tuesday after Russian attacks left her without access to water, power, or heating. The little girl known as Tanya died in Mariupol after her mum was killed in Russian shelling. Two bombs were dropped in the attack on the International and the Ukrainian Committees of the Red Cross, according to unverified reports. Despite Russian and Ukrainian officials agreeing to establish “humanitarian corridors” to allow civilians out of some cities, Russia has been accused of shelling evacuation routes. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Russia had breached the ceasefire and accused it of holding thousands hostage. “Russia continues holding hostage over 400,000 people in Mariupol, blocks humanitarian aid and evacuation. “Indiscriminate shelling continues,” he tweeted. “Almost 3,000 newborn babies lack medicine and food.” Read More on The Sun Ukraine has blamed Russia for violating ceasefire agreements, although the Russian military denies firing on civilian convoys. US defence officials estimate that Russia has fired more than 600 missiles from inside or at Ukraine since February 24. Help those fleeing conflict with The Sun’s Ukraine Fund PICTURES of women and children fleeing the horror of Ukraine’s devastated towns and cities have moved Sun readers to tears. Many of you want to help the five million caught in the chaos — and now you can, by donating to The Sun’s Ukraine Fund. Give as little as £3 or as much as you can afford and every penny will be donated to the Red Cross on the ground helping women, children, the old, the infirm and the wounded. Donate here to help The Sun’s fund Or text to 70141 from UK mobiles £3 — text SUN£3£5 — text SUN£5£10 — text SUN£10 Texts cost your chosen donation amount (e.g. £5) +1 standard message (we receive 100%). For full T&Cs visit redcross.org.uk/mobile The Ukraine Crisis Appeal will support people in areas currently affected and those potentially affected in the future by the crisis. 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