Russia announces a unilateral ceasefire to evacuate civilians from the Azovstal plant in Mariupol

The Russian authorities have announced this Monday a unilateral ceasefire starting at 2:00 p.m. (local time) in order to facilitate the launch of a humanitarian corridor with which to evacuate the civilians who resist together with the Ukrainian troops in the metallurgical plant from Azovstal, in the city of Mariupol.

The head of the National Defense Control Center, Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev, explained that both the Russian troops and the militia forces of the self-proclaimed Republic of Donetsk have decided to unilaterally cease “any type of hostilities” in order to ensure the departure of civilians.

“As of 2:00 p.m. on April 25, 2022 (…), the units withdraw to a safe distance and ensure the withdrawal of this category of citizens to any direction they choose,” says the order of the Forces Russian Armed Forces, tells the Interfax agency.

“If there are still civilians in the metallurgical plant, we categorically demand that the kyiv authorities immediately issue an appropriate order to the commanders of the nationalist formations to release them,” Mizintsev demanded.

Last week the humanitarian corridors announced to evacuate the civilians who still resist in Mariupol failed, one of the main objectives that Russian President Vladimir Putin has set for himself to continue advancing in what he has called a “special military operation.”

With one of the main ports in the entire country, the city of Mariupol seems to be a key player in Moscow’s aspirations to prevent Ukraine from entering the sea and unite the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk with the Crimean peninsula. also under the Russian umbrella.

By Editor

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