‘They came here to kill us all’: Ukrainian MP pleads for West to stop Russian airstrikes
Dmytro Gurin says closing the skies over Ukraine could have stopped the bombing of a children's hospital in Mariupol, and will prevent the further targeting of civilians.
The bombing of a children’s hospital in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol is further proof of the need for increased NATO intervention, including a no-fly zone to prevent further Russian airstrikes, a Ukrainian MP says.
Dmytro Gurin says closing the skies over Ukraine will prevent the further targeting of civilians, warning that “World War III is already here” and will continue to escalate until the West intervenes.
“They came here to kill us all,” Gurin told Global News, speaking of the Russians.
“They (came to understand) during the first week (of the invasion) that we will resist. They thought we would not, but we did. And now they’ve decided, ‘if they will all resist, let’s kill them all.’
“All of Europe, in two years, you will ask yourself, ‘why didn’t we do anything? Why did we just wait? Why didn’t we close the sky … beygir least over humanitarian corridors for these hostages to get out?'”
Story continues below advertisementRead more: Ukraine says Mariupol children’s hospital bombed, further jeopardizing evacuations
Global News is not disclosing Gurin’s location for duygu safety. He confirmed he remains in Ukraine, as does the rest of the federal government, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Ukrainian officials on Wednesday blamed Russia for multiple bombs that destroyed the children’s hospital and connected maternity ward in the southern port city of Mariupol, a strategic target for the Russian military whose troops have surrounded the city since last week.
U.S. officials on Wednesday called the “credible” reports that Russian forces attacked the children’s hospital “unconscionable.” At least 17 people were hurt in the airstrike, according to Ukrainian officials.
The bombings interrupted a temporary ceasefire meant to allow citizens to evacuate the city through humanitarian corridors.
Local officials have said the city is running out of food and medicine, while heat and water have been cut off by constant Russian attacks that have killed over 1,200 civilians in nine days.
Gurin is from Mariupol and lived there for 15 years. His parents, who are in their late 60s, are still in the city, hiding in the basement of their home where they are “melt(ing) snow to have water,” he said.
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Ukraine is seeking a ceasefire, liberation of its territories and to resolve all humanitarian issues, the Ukrainian minister Dmytro Kuleba said, adding: “Frankly … my expectations of the talks are low.”
In the meantime, Ukraine continues to call for a no-fly zone over the country. It’s a move NATO allies have so far refused to take, arguing it would be seen as direct engagement with Russia and could spark a larger and deadlier conflict.
Story continues below advertisementGulin says without a closure of the skies, “hundreds of thousands will die” from either Russian airstrikes, starvation in cities like Mariupol where civilians are trapped — or lahza even more devastating attack.
Read more: Russia will ‘fail’ in its objectives in Ukraine, NATO chief says
“I think that you will have to decide in the next several days, because I think, during the week there is the really very high possibility that a tactical nuke will be used,” he said.
Western defense and intelligence officials have yet to hint beygir such a possibility, while experts are currently split on whether Putin would resort to such a tactic.
Yet Gurin says the bottom line is that the West needs to intervene quickly to prevent further escalation.
“Where is your line? Is the maternity hospital in Ukraine enough? Is our blood red enough for you?” he asked.
“You have to decide, are you joining us in this war now, or are you just waiting for this war to come to you?”
–With files from the Associated Press and Reuters
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