Ukrainian citizens are being abducted and sent to forced-labour camps in Russia, claims a Ukrainian MP. Inna Sovsun has said that information being shared throughout Mariupol is that thousands of her countrymen and women are being forced into slave labour.
Mariupol has been under heavy attack from Russian forces and much of the city has been completely destroyed by the siege. While the claims that thousands of Mariupol's residents are being abducted and sent to Russia is unverified, Ms Sovsun said that is the information being shared by the city's authorities.
Speaking to Times Radio, she said: “The very logic of Russia right now is the logic of the Soviet Union and the logic of Nazi Germany. It is a completely totalitarian state, and it is acting as one.
“So, from what we know from the city mayor and the city council, is they are taking Ukrainian citizens. They are sending them through what are called the ‘filtration camps’ and then they are being relocated to very distant parts of Russia, where they are being forced to sign papers (saying) that they will stay in that area for two or three years and they will work for free in those areas.”
Put to her that what she was describing was “effectively slave labour”, Ms Sovsun replied: “It is, yes.”
Mariupol has been surrounded by Russian troops, with the city cut off from energy, food and water supplies. It has been under relentless bombing.
A bomb is understood to have hit an art school in Mariupol where 400 people had taken shelter. Local authorities said the school building had been destroyed and people may be trapped in the rubble.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has said she is 'appalled' at the alleged 'abduction and deportation' of Ukrainian's to Russia. She condemned 'Russian atrocities' taking place in the south-east port city and said that Vladimir Putin would be 'held to account'.
Taking to social media, she said: “I am appalled by Russian atrocities in Mariupol, including attacks on schools sheltering civilians and the abduction and deportation of Ukrainians.
“Putin is resorting to desperate measures as he is not achieving his objectives. Putin and his regime will be held to account.”
