Russia claims it is ready to release civilians from Azovstal plant

OLENA ROSCHINA - MONDAY, 25 APRIL 2022, 13:08

The Russian Ministry of Defence has provided assurances that armed formations will not open fire starting at 14:00 (Kyiv time) on 25 April and will allow civilians to leave the Azovstal plant in Mariupol. It also claims that the humanitarian corridor has been operating for 36 days. According to the Ukrainian side, shelling has never stopped.

Source: statement of the Interdepartmental Coordination Staff of the Russian Federation for Humanitarian Response, published by the Russian Ministry of Defence

Quote: "The leadership of the Russian Federation once again confirms the previously open and permanent round-the-clock humanitarian corridor that has been open for 36 days (since 21 March 2022) from the Azovstal metallurgical plant for the evacuation of civilians (plant personnel, women and children), whose alleged presence in the underground facilities of the plant the Kyiv authorities have announced publicly.

At the same time, guided by purely humanitarian principles, the Armed Forces of Russia and units of the Donetsk People's Republic will unilaterally cease all hostilities starting at 14:00 (Moscow time) on 25 April 2022. Units are being withdrawn to a safe distance and will oversee the evacuation of the above-mentioned category of citizens in any direction of their choice".

Details: According to the Russians, the readiness of the Ukrainian side to start a humanitarian operation "is indicated by raising of white flags" around the perimeter or in certain areas of Azovstal.

The Russian Federation "is publicly and officially stating that there are no obstacles to the evacuation of civilians from Azovstal, other than the principled decision of the Kyiv authorities and commanders of nationalist formations to continue to hold civilians at the plant as a ‘human shield’".

The Russian Defence Ministry adds that the statement will be communicated to Ukrainian servicemen at Azovstal by radio continuously every 30 minutes, as well as through operational communication channels through Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk.

Reference: The Interdepartmental Coordination Headquarters of the Russian Federation for Humanitarian Response is headed by Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev, the head of the National Defence Management Centre of the Russian Federation.

We remind you that both the Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol and the Ukrainian authorities called on world leaders to assist in the evacuation of civilians and wounded soldiers from the Azovstal plant.

Mariupol has been under siege by the Russian army since 1 March. People are evacuated at their own risk, because a ceasefire is never observed. The city is being attacked daily and Azovstal is being shelled and bombarded.