Russia called this Sunday at ukrainian forces to leave the city of Mariupol, in southeastern Ukraine, on Monday, before noon.
“In that case, the organized departure from the city will take place as follows: from 10 to 12 o’clock all Ukrainian armed units and foreign mercenaries without weapons and ammunition (will be able to leave the town) along a route agreed with Ukraine” , said Mikhail Mizintsevhead of the Russian National Defense Control Center.
Mizintsev accused the Ukrainian “nationalists” of sowing “chaos” and “terror” in Mariupol and causing a serious humanitarian catastrophe in the city.
The military chief stated that the Russian forces have not used heavy weapons in the city and neither have the pro-Russian militias in Donetsk who are fighting with the Russian Army.
At the same time, he assured that the ukrainian forces who lay down their arms will be able to leave Mariupol “safely and without their lives being in danger”.
Starting at noon in the city, humanitarian convoys with food, medicine and essential items will be able to enter both from kyiv and from territories in the east of the country, which are not under its control.
At the same time, Mizintsev called on international organizations, including the UN and the Red Cross, to send their representatives to the city to supervise the evacuation of civilians.
He insisted that locals can freely choose any humanitarian corridor, offered by both Russia and Ukraine, or stay in the city.
The Ukrainian government admitted two days ago that it currently has no possibility of sending military reinforcements to Mariupol.
Olexii Arestovich, an adviser to President Volodomir Zelensky, said the closest forces are more than 100 kilometers away or already involved in other fighting.
“Currently there is no military solution for Mariupol. It is not only my opinion, it is also the opinion of the military,” he said.
