Russia promises to let civilians remaining at Azovstal leave
Kateryna Tyshchenko – Wednesday, 4 May 2022, 21:52
Russia has announced that a humanitarian corridor will operate from 08:00 on Thursday, 5 May to allow civilians to evacuate from the territory of the Azovstal plant in Mariupol. There is no mention about the Ukrainian soldiers, in particular those who had been wounded.
Source: Announcement by the Russian Interdepartmental Coordination Headquarters for Humanitarian Response, cited by the Russian Ministry of Defence
Quote from the Ministry of Defence: "According to the decision of the leadership of the Russian Federation and based on humanitarian principles, the Russian Armed Forces will open a humanitarian corridor from the territory of the Azovstal steelworks from 08:00 to 18:00 (Moscow time) on 5, 6, and 7 May 2022 for the evacuation of civilians ([steelworker] staff, women, and children) who – according to another announcement made by Ukrainian authorities – are still remaining in the plant’s bunkers."
Details: Russia promises that during this period, Russian troops and the groups of ORDLO [temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk Regions] militants will unilaterally "cease all hostilities, withdraw units to a safe distance, and ensure that civilians are able to leave in any direction they choose."
At the same time, the statement does not say anything about the Ukrainian military, in particular the wounded soldiers.
The Ukrainian authorities have not yet confirmed the humanitarian corridor.
Earlier: Ukrainska Pravda reported earlier that Russian troops have been storming the Azovstal plant in the besieged city of Mariupol for two days now. Ukrainian soldiers and civilians who have not yet been evacuated remain in the plant’s bunkers.
On Wednesday, 4 May, Russian troops entered the territory of the steelworks, which they had been shelling and bombarding until then. Heavy fighting continues at Azovstal. Earlier, there was no communication with the Ukrainian soldiers in Azovstal.
On the evening of 4 May, Davyd Arakhamiia, Head of Ukraine’s negotiating delegation and Head of the Sluha Narodu party [Sluha Narodu, or the Servant of the People, is President Zelenskyy’s political party], confirmed that Russian troops have entered the territory of the steelworks.
