At the very least 10 Greek nationals have been killed and 6 wounded by Russia’s bombing in Ukraine, Greece’s overseas ministry stated, including that it has summoned the Russian ambassador to Greece.
Six folks have been killed within the Sartana village and 4 others in Buhas, positioned about 15km and 65km (9.3 miles and 40 miles), respectively north of Mariupol, the ministry stated in a press release on Saturday, including that there was a toddler among the many injured.
1000’s of Greek expatriates dwell in Mariupol, the center of the ethnic Greek group that dates to the 18th century.
Greece is “appalled by and unequivocally condemns the bombing of civilians” by Russia, learn the assertion which additionally stated the Russian diplomat is predicted on the Ministry of Overseas Affairs on Sunday.
The continued aerial assaults in opposition to civilians within the village of Sartana resulted within the deaths of one other 4 Diaspora Greeks.
We unequivocally condemn them & name on 🇷🇺 to right away halt airstrikes and any motion concentrating on civilians.@GreeceMFA Assertion➡️https://t.co/rVd1gorWod https://t.co/MJJ4Stsyur pic.twitter.com/DRbiE2h8Xc
— Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών (@GreeceMFA) February 26, 2022
“Cease the bombing now!” Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated on Twitter.
The killing got here as Ukraine has entered the fourth day of an enormous sea, land and air offensive by Russia which has to this point killed greater than 200 civilians and wounded a whole bunch.
Simply days earlier than the Russian invasion, Dendias had “urgently” raised the safety of the ethnic Greeks in Ukraine throughout a gathering with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, the ministry added.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his solidarity with Greece, saying that “all folks of Europe”, and never simply Ukrainians, are mourning right now.
Δεν είναι μόνο ο λαός της Ουκρανίας που πενθεί σήμερα εξαιτίας του πολέμου που προκάλεσε η Ρωσία, αλλά όλοι οι λαοί της Ευρώπης. Απόψε σκεφτόμαστε με θλίψη την Ελλάδα που έχασε άδικα δέκα ομογενείς που ζούσαν στην Oυκραvιά κοντά στην Μαριούπολη.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) February 26, 2022
Translation: “It’s not simply the folks of Ukraine who’re mourning right now due to the warfare waged by Russia, however all of the peoples of Europe. Tonight we expect with disappointment of Greece that unjustly misplaced 10 expatriates who lived in Ukraine close to Mariupol.
The Russian embassy in Athens in a press release expressed “deep sorrow” over the deaths, however insisted that Russia was “completely” concentrating on army models and installations in Ukraine.
“We don’t bomb inhabited areas and villages, nor any political or cultural infrastructure,” the embassy stated, including that “the Ukrainian military and nationalist Nazi squads have been identified for a few years to strike in opposition to civilians”.
It denied that Russian models have been lively within the Sartana space on Saturday.
“The Kiev [Kyiv] regime is probably utilizing the ethnic Greek and different communities dwelling in Ukraine exactly to foment anti-Russian response overseas,” it added.
Earlier this month, Athens protested to Kyiv after an ethnic Greek died in a brawl in japanese Ukraine, which Athens blamed on Ukrainian troopers.
On Friday, Greece closed its embassy in Ukraine’s capital however strengthened its consular presence within the southern metropolis of Mariupol.
Regardless of historic hyperlinks to Russia, Greece has condemned the assault and has supported sanctions in opposition to Moscow.
Anti-war protests by Ukrainians dwelling in Greece and political events have been additionally held through the week.
On Saturday, Greek PM Mitsotakis stated in a cellphone name with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Athens was sending medical provides in help.
Athens can be prepared to supply Poland with “humanitarian and technical help” in managing refugees from Ukraine, the Greek migration ministry stated.
