Russia insisted on Sunday (20) that Ukrainian forces abandon the city of Mariupol, in southeastern Ukraine, before noon (local time, five hours later than Brasília time) on Monday.
“In that case, the organized exit from the city will be carried out as follows: from 10 am to 12 pm all Ukrainian armed units and foreign mercenaries without weapons and ammunition (will be able to leave the city) through a route agreed with Ukraine,” Mikhail Mizintsev said. , head of the Russian National Defense Control Center.
Mizintsev accused Ukrainian “nationalists” of sowing “chaos” and “terror” in Mariupol and causing a serious humanitarian catastrophe in the city. It was not stated what kind of consequences there will be if the city is not handed over to the Russians.
The military commander commented that Russian forces did not use heavy weapons in the city, nor did the pro-Russian militias from Donetsk who fight alongside the Russian army. In addition, he assured that Ukrainian forces that abandon their weapons will be able to leave Mariupol “safely and without danger to their lives”.
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Humanitarian convoys with food, medicine and essential items will be able to enter the city from noon, both from Kiev and from territories in the east of the country that are not under their control.
Mizintsev also appealed to international organizations, including the UN and the Red Cross, to send representatives to the city to oversee the evacuations of civilians. According to him, locals can freely choose any of the humanitarian corridors offered by both Russia and Ukraine, or remain in the city.
The Ukrainian government admitted two days ago that it currently has no possibility of sending military reinforcements to Mariupol.
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