Russia softens its stance on the hospital bombings in Ukraine.

LONDON, March 10 (Reuters) - On Thursday, Russia's stance on the bombing of a Ukrainian hospital in Mariupol changed, with a mix of remarks ranging from vehement denials to a plea for the gathering of actual evidence.

Ukraine's president accused Russia of genocide on Wednesday, despite a ceasefire agreement allowing civilians to flee the besieged city. Russian bombers attacked the hospital, officials alleged, burying patients in rubble. 

When pressed for comment in the incident, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Reuters: "Russian forces do not fire on civilian targets."

He indicated on Thursday that the Kremlin would investigate the matter.

"We will surely ask our military," Peskov told reporters, "since you and I don't have precise information about what transpired there." "And it's extremely likely that the military will release some information."

On Thursday, other Russian officials took a tougher stance, dismissing the hospital bombing as fake news.

"This is information terrorism," said Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry.

Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia's first deputy permanent representative to the UN, went even farther, claiming that the building was a former maternity hospital that had been taken over by Ukrainian forces.

"That's how fake news starts," he added, noting that Russia had warned on March 7 that the hospital had been converted into a military target from which Ukrainians were firing.

The remarks' tone and content were uncommon for Russian authorities, who have maintained tight unity and consistency in their propaganda since the invasion began on February 24.

"That's how fake news originates," he added, citing Russia's warning on March 7 that the hospital had been turned into a military target from which Ukrainians were firing.

The tone and content of the remarks were unusual for Russian officials, who have kept their propaganda in lockstep since the invasion began on February 24.