Twitter has deleted three official tweets from the Russian Embassy to the United Kingdom in which it refused to take responsibility for Russian forces bombing a maternity and children’s hospital in Mariupol, a Ukrainian city on the country's southern coast that is currently under Russian siege.
The embassy attempted to discredit images of the bombed hospital as "fake" and called actual victims of the bombing "crisis actors," suggesting they are part of a supposed conspiracy to manipulate public opinion by pretending to be victims of the attack.
It's day 15 of war in Ukraine.\n\n1) After yesterday's deadly attack on a Mariupol maternity hospital, a false claim began trending on Russian Telegram that a non-preganant crisis actor played the role of two pregnant women there.\n\nIt was echoed by the Russian embassy in UK today.pic.twitter.com/LenVVB7wZP— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan Sardarizadeh) 1646931445
Three people died in the strike and more than a dozen were injured but Russia has claimed it was not responsible for the attack at all, insisting that it had been cleared of patients and that the scene had been staged by Ukrainian extremists. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed that "Russian forces do not fire on civilian targets."
Ukrainian President Volodymyrr Zelenskyy has rejected the Russian government's narrative, saying that the Russians "lie confidently."
Many have also called out the Russian government in the wake of the attack, which has drawn international condemnation.
This is how the Russian Embassy in London has responded to the bombing of the maternity hospital in Mariupol. Utterly obscene.pic.twitter.com/l4Udc1SmM0— Carole Cadwalladr (@Carole Cadwalladr) 1646921041
Enough people reported the lies of @RussianEmbassy that the tweet was removed. We know they have a well-funded disinfo operation just like they have a massive military but don\u2019t let that stop you from punching back \n\nThe only way to get rid of bullies is to stand up to them.https://twitter.com/natsechobbyist/status/1501950124691394562\u00a0\u2026— Rachel Vindman \ud83c\udf3b (@Rachel Vindman \ud83c\udf3b) 1646932379
This is a jaw-droppingly disgusting tweet from the Russian Embassy in the UK.\n\nThe lot of them should be sent back to Russia, immediately.pic.twitter.com/yCN0OQHDKM— Top News \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Top News \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1646935663
Visiting the UK @RussianEmbassy Twitter feed is like stepping into an open sewer.\nMany of the people involved in this are based in the UK and have access to free and open news reporting. Do they not feel embarrassed posting whatever nonsense they are told to?— Matthew Taylor \ud83d\udd36\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa\ud83d\udc99 (@Matthew Taylor \ud83d\udd36\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa\ud83d\udc99) 1646936689
Is the Russian Embassy in the UK now openly attacking the UK?\n\nIt sure looks like it. Looks like they are claiming the UK is sponsoring neo-Nazis and the killing of civilians.\n\nIs there any benefit/ constructive point in keeping it open on UK soil?https://twitter.com/russianembassy/status/1502227754850344961\u00a0\u2026— Mike Galsworthy \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Mike Galsworthy \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1646995805
Russian embassy in UK now claiming that women injured in attack on maternity hospital were actors.\n\nOnce again straight from Syria playbook.\n\nAfter atrocities would come claims the dead and injured were "crisis actors" (particularly in attempts to discredit White Helmets)pic.twitter.com/6mzprDj15K— Emma Graham-Harrison (@Emma Graham-Harrison) 1646927361
Can someone explain why the Russian embassy is allowed to remain open in UK when it\u2019s spewing lies and bile @BorisJohnson— Cerys Matthews (@Cerys Matthews) 1646929119
Shut the Russian Embassy in UK.\n\nThey're not even trying to be professional or classy. Just shut it down, send them home.pic.twitter.com/D4yuj6yU7A— Mike Galsworthy \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Mike Galsworthy \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1646930784
Time something was done about the Russian Embassy here in the UK. \nThe amount of propaganda it is pumping out is sickening. Many people won't fall for it, but unfortunately the lunatic left and far right grifters will; and then amplify it.— Bella Bee \ud83d\udc1d\ud83c\udf39 (@Bella Bee \ud83d\udc1d\ud83c\udf39) 1646925736
Vice President Kamala Harris, speaking during a trip to Romania, unequivocally stated that intentional attacks against civilians are considered war crimes, referring, in addition to the hospital attack, to recent reports that Russian forces had attacked civilians and targeted residential areas in the ongoing war that erupted since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his forces to invade Ukraine.
Harris said that the United States has been "clear that any intentional attack or targeting of civilians is a war crime."
Harris's remarks follow comments she made on March 10, when she said that Russia should “absolutely” be investigated for war crimes.
Harris, speaking during a joint news conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw, said she has "no question the eyes of the world are on this war and what Russia has done in terms of this aggression and these atrocities.”
Harris’s statement came shortly after the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced a war crimes investigation into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 39 countries had referred Russia’s case to the court.