Azov rebuffs claims of "capitulation" with a white flag as fake news

DENYS KARLOVSKYI  —  SATURDAY, 7 MAY 2022, 16:48

The press service of the Azov Regiment, which is defending Mariupol from the Russian occupiers, has labelled reports about the alleged "capitulation" of the city's defenders with a white flag as fake news.

Source: Azov press service

Quote: "There are reports from several Internet sources that the defenders of Mariupol have joined the Russian military carrying a white flag.

In fact, white flags are being used by both groups to implement the civilian evacuation plan.

This time as well, both groups used such flags to evacuate citizens from the territory of the Azovstal plant. We would like to note that this procedure is being carried out for the fourth time. "

Details: Unconfirmed information was spread on social networks that the defenders of Mariupol had allegedly emerged carrying white flags and approached Russian troops.

Background: 

• Ukrainian intelligence reported that the Russian command was taking officers from combat positions to guard Kremlin propagandists and officials 24/7 in Mariupol.
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that if the Russians killed anyone hiding at Azovstal, including the Ukrainian military, that would be grounds for ending the talks.
• On 1 May, with the assistance of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, Ukrainian authorities managed to evacuate part of the civilian population hiding from the Russian occupiers in the bunkers of the Azovstal plant in Mariupol. On 3 May, the column arrived in Zaporizhzhia. For this operation, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres held a series of meetings with world leaders and personally flew to Moscow and Kyiv to agree on details.
• On 4 May, 344 people were evacuated to Zaporizhzhia. This was the second stage of the evacuation led by the UN and the ICRC.
• On 6 May, as part of the third stage of the evacuation, the Ukrainian authorities confirmed the safe evacuation of 50 people from the territory of Azovstal, including children.