Russia says civilians ‘could leave’ steel plant in Mariupol, Ukraine refuses (photos)

The giant metallurgical plant is the last Ukrainian stronghold in the port city and has been isolated by Russian forces for a week, with about 2,000 people believed to be hiding in its massive underground systems, including soldiers and civilians.

Ombudsman Lyudmila Denisova said earlier that the number of people there is about 1,000, according to the ‘Kyiv Independent’ network.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin stopped a further attack on the plant to save the lives of troops, but ordered its isolation so that “no fly would pass.”

The Russian Ministry of Defense said today that it will open the humanitarian corridors in the plant from 14.00 local time

Russian troops “from 14:00 Moscow time on April 25, 2022, will stop any fighting, withdrawing units at a safe distance to allow the evacuation of civilians,” according to a statement translated by the network. Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty.

The ministry said that this will provide entertainment for employees, women and children, in whatever direction they want to take, the magazine writes. Forbes . The statement also accused Ukrainian troops of using civilians trapped in the area as ‘human shields’.

Ukraine has denied the allegations, accusing Russian forces of deliberately targeting civilians.

Zv. Ukrainian Prime Minister Irina Vereshschuk said yesterday that the two countries have not reached any agreement on humanitarian evacuations from Mariupol.

“It is important to understand that a humanitarian corridor opens with the approval of both parties,” she told the Telegram. according to the Reuters agency. “A unilaterally open corridor has no security so it is not a humanitarian corridor.”

Officials have urged the UN secretary-general to “start guaranteeing” a humanitarian corridor for civilians in Azovstal.

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