Russian tank ‘opens fire on elderly care home killing 56 & taking 15 hostage’ in ‘cynical & deliberate’ attack

RUSSIAN troops have reportedly shelled an old people’s home in Ukraine, killing 56 people. A tank allegedly fired at the residential home in what Ukrainian authorities branded a “cynical” and “deliberate” attack. Telegram56 people have died after Russian forces allegedly shelled an old people’s home in Ukraine[/caption] GettyThe reported attack took place in the city of Kreminna, in the eastern province of Luhansk[/caption] The shocking incident is said to have taken place in the small city of Kreminna in the breakaway pro-Russian region of Luhansk. Some 15 survivors were then reportedly abducted by Russian troops and taken to the nearby city of Svatove, some 25 miles north, in territory occupied by forces loyal to Vladimir Putin. The attack allegedly took place on March 11 but is only being reported on now as Ukrainian authorities have been unable to reach the nursing home. If true, it would certainly be classed as a war crime by Russian forces. READ MORE ON UKRAINE LOST AT SEA Black Sea commander ‘killed’ in Ukraine as 1st of Putin’s naval officers fall SONIC HELL Russia 'unleashes 2nd hypersonic missile' dubbed the Sizzler into Ukraine Ukraine’s claims have not been independently verified but were tweeted out by Ukraine’s State Service of Special Communications. In a statement, it said: “56 people were killed in Kreminna, Luhansk Oblast – the occupiers shot from a tank (a) home for the elderly. “Russians fired at it. Cynically and deliberately. They adjusted the tank, put it in front of the house, and started firing.” The statement went on: “Those who lived to their old age in the house – 56 people – died on the spot. The survivors, 15 people, were abducted by the occupiers and taken to the occupied territory in Svatove to the regional geriatric boarding school.” Most read in News DIRTY FEEDS Is this UK's filthiest restaurant? Inside takeaway given ZERO hygiene rating STUDENT MURDER Urgent search for man, 22, after student, 19, murdered inside uni halls WILD FIRE Huge 'wall of flames' forces urgent evacuation as police launch arson probe END OF THE ROAD Maddie inquiry to END after 11yrs as fears grow suspect WON'T be charged TEEN 'RAPE' Boy, 14, arrested on suspicion of raping teenage girl at nature reserve DEAD OF NIGHT Russian corpses 'taken to Belarus to disguise death toll' of Ukraine invasion In a separate statement on the messaging app Telegram, Serhiy Haidai, governor of the Luhansk Regional State Administration, said: “It is still impossible to get to the site of the tragedy.” The statement was also shared by Olexander Scherba, Ukraine’s former ambassador to Austria. “Absolute horror in Kreminna near Luhansk,” he tweeted. “On March 11, (a) Russian tank approached the local senior home and fired multiple shots. 56 civilians dead – Luhansk governor.” Russia has continually denied Western claims its forces are deliberately targetting civilians. It comes as… A heroic Ukrainian mum saved her baby’s life by shielding it from Russian shrapenlVideo captured the moment a two-year-old girl was pulled from rubble in KharkivA Ukrainian journalist reportedly kidnapped by Russian spies near Mariupol is still missingThe bodies of Russian soldiers are being ‘sneaked back to Russia at night to hide the true death toll’A teen Queen’s Guard has been arrested by military police after going AWOL to fight Russia It comes as Russian forces allegedly bombed a school in Mariupol where up to 400 civilians were sheltering from shelling. A number of women and children are still said to be trapped under the rubble following the attack overnight. It currently remains unknown if there are any casualties. The strategically-crucial southern port city has witnessed some of the heaviest fighting of the war so far. They adjusted the tank, put it in front of the house, and started firing Ukraine's State Service of Special Communications This week, Putin’s troops bombed a theatre in Mariupol being used as a shelter by around 1,200 people. Around 130 people were rescued but true casualty numbers are not yet known. Satellite images showed the word “children” written in large white letters in Russian outside the front and back of the building, the Maxar space technology company said. In a statement, Ukraine’s foreign ministry said: “The theatre building served as a shelter for hundreds of Mariupol residents who had lost their homes as a result of Russian armed forces bombing and shelling the city. “The bomb strike demolished the central part of the theatre building, causing large numbers of people to be buried under the debris. “An assessment of the exact number of persons affected is currently impossible due to ongoing shelling. “By delivering a purposeful bomb attack to the place of mass gathering of civilians Russia has committed another war crime. “Putin’s regime has long since crossed the line of humanity.” ReutersUkraine claims the tank attack was ‘cynical and deliberate’[/caption] Pictures showed a pile of rubble with twisted metal and smoke rising from the ruins while videos showed blood-soaked victims being rushed to hospital – and numerous bodies in the basement of the theatre. The Mayor of Mariupol, Vadym Boychenko, said that efforts to rescue hundreds of people trapped in the basement of a bombed theatre in the city have been hampered. About 300,000 people are trapped in the city, as food, water, and medical supplies run out and Russia blocks the entry of humanitarian aid. “[There is] street fighting in the city centre,” Mr Boychenko said, confirming a claim made by Russia on Friday when it said it was “tightening the noose” around the city. “There are tanks… and artillery shelling, and all kinds of weapons fired in the area,” the mayor said. “Our forces are doing everything they can to hold their positions in the city but the forces of the enemy are larger than ours, unfortunately.” City authorities also claimed that some residents of Mariupol were being forcibly taken to Russia and stripped of their Ukrainian passports. Read More on The Sun LAID TO REST Shane Warne's family say farewell to cricket star as mourners attend funeral HOLDEN A SEC Amanda Holden reveals surprise 'best mate' - did YOU know they were friends? “The occupiers are sending the residents of Mariupol to filtration camps, checking their phones and seizing (their) Ukrainian documents,” Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the Donetsk regional administration said, adding that more than 1,000 Mariupol residents had been deported. “I appeal to the international community: put pressure on Russia and its madman of a leader,” he said on Facebook. 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. In the unlikely event that the British Red Cross raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help them prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters anywhere in the world. For more information visit https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/disaster-fund