Russian Forces Shell Sultan Suleman Mosque

Web Desk — Russia shelled a mosque in Mariupol housing at least 80 civilians, including Turkish citizens, the Ukrainian foreign ministry said on Saturday.

Russian invaders shelled the mosque of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife Roxolana (Hurrem Sultan) in Mariupol, the foreign ministry said in a tweet.

“There are more than 80 adults and children hiding from the shelling, including Turkish citizens.”

Ukraine has accused Russia of indiscriminately bombing Mariupol and imposing a blockade on the city that has trapped thousands. The claims are denied by Russia, which blames Ukraine for the delay in evacuations.

A Mariupol adviser, Piotr Andryushchenko, wrote on Facebook that shelling was continuing in the direction of the mosque on Friday.

“Does Mr Erdogan know that in minutes the [shelling] can destroy 86 of his fellow citizens?” he wrote, referring to the Turkish president.

“Will the leader of the nation calmly observe the inhumane destruction of Turkish citizens, limiting himself to the guarantee of meaningless negotiations between the Russian Federation and Ukraine?”

Turkey also confirmed on Friday that it had begun evacuating its embassy in Kyiv.

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, on 24 February, Ankara has been helping its citizens leave Ukraine. So far, 13,719 citizens have been evacuated from the country, according to Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Despite ongoing negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, there has been no progress towards opening a humanitarian corridor for those trapped in Mariupol.