Ukraine's Mariupol mourns victims of punitive operation held on Victory Day

Photo: AP photo

Ukraine's Mariupol mourns victims of punitive operation held on Victory Day. 52743.jpeg

Officials representing the city council of Mariupol expressed condolences to the relatives of those killed during the punitive operation that took place in the Ukrainian city on the Victory Day.

It was reported that an employee of RT channel was wounded in the stomach during a shootout. The man currently remains at hospital; his condition is stable.

In the morning of May 10, Ukrainian security officials announced the withdrawal of troops from the center of events. The situation in the city is now quiet, public transport began to work, but people prefer not to leave their homes.

The mayor escaped from Mariupol day before; his whereabouts remain unknown.

The building of the Mariupol City Council was partially burnt as a result of the fire. The fire completely destroyed the barricades, which representatives of the People's Donetsk Republic erected at the entrance to the city council.

In Mariupol, May 10 was declared a day of mourning. In the punitive operation, which the Ukrainian sitting authorities conducted in the city on May 9th, the Victory Day, seven people were killed, 40 were wounded. The Ukrainian troops surrounded the building of the local police department. The building became a shelter to police officers, who refused to obey orders from Kiev. Afterwards, the troops opened fire from armored vehicles and machine guns on the participants of the meeting, which was held to mark the Victory Day - the people tried to prevent the assault of the police building.

The whereabouts of the police chief of Mariupol are unknown as well. According to various sources, he was either killed, or kidnapped by special forces.