Pope Francis prayed for victims in Mariupol

25.01.2015, 13:31

"I am following, with real concern, the escalation of the military conflict in eastern Ukraine, which continues to result in numerous victims among the civilian population. I assure everyone who is suffering of my prayers, and strongly appeal for the renewal of attempts to dialogue and to lay-aside all forms of aggression," said the Pope on January 25 during the meeting with pilgrims on the St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.

30 people, including two children, have been killed in shelling in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol on Saturday. Another 102 people were injured, at least 75 of whom needed hospital treatment, and many suffered shrapnel injuries, Mariupol City Council said.

Monitors with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe said they conducted a crater analysis which showed the use of Grad and Uragan rockets that likely originated from areas controlled by the pro-Russian rebel group Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), CNN reports.