During Mariupol siege, nearly 5,000 civilians killed, including about 210 children

About 5,000 people died in Mariupol during the Russian siege, including nearly 210 children.

The data was provided to the media by Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko, Ukrinform reports.

"Twenty-seven days into the start of the siege, as of March 27, almost 5,000 people were killed in Mariupol, including about 210 children," the report says.

Throughout this period, enemy shelling and bombings damaged 2,340 apartment blocks, accounting for 90% of the total, of which 1,560 (60%) were hit directly and 1,040 (40%) destroyed. In the private sector 61,200 (90%) households were damaged, of which 40,800 (60%) were hit directly and 27,200 (40%) were destroyed.

The Russian troops wreaked destruction on three hospitals and damage – on seven others. In addition, 57 schools and 70 kindergartens were affected, of which 23 and 28 were destroyed, respectively.

Two factories, a port, and a military unit have also sustained damage.

Before the blockade, up to 140,000 people fled Mariupol and 150,000 people were evacuated from the city after it was besieged. As many as 170,000 people remain under siege and 30, 000 were deported by Russia, Boychenko informs.

The mayor of Mariupol noted that these figures are only approximate, for it is impossible to accurately assess the losses until active hostilities subside.