Donetsk, Apr 21 - DAN. Remains of more than 20 people killed by Ukrainian gunmen have been found in the course of an inspection of Hospital No 4 premises in Mariupol, the Donetsk People’s Republic Office at the Joint Centre for Control and Coordination (JCCC) reported on Thursday.

“On Wednesday, April 20, experts resumed work on the premises of Hospital No 4 to record and document the fact of mass deaths of civilians,” the report said. “Overall, 26 civilians were found on an eight-meter area next to the hospital. They had been killed in massive strikes by the nationalistic battalion “Azov” (the organization banned in the DPR - eds Donetsk News Agency).”

“The enemy opened sniper fire from the Azovstal metallurgical works at the joint group of JCCC experts and Russian Investigative Committee personnel and Russian journalists,” the JCCC said. As a result, the inspection participants had to stop their work and evacuate to a safe place.

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Mariupol is the largest city on the Sea of Azov coast and a key Donbass metallurgy center and seaport. Clashes for Mariupol began on February 25; the city was fully blocked in the course of the fighting. The mopping up operation against the Ukrainian gunmen in the city is nearing completion. *jk