Russia today called on the entire Ukrainian army to “lay down its arms” and the last defenders of the city of Mariupol to end their “senseless resistance”, in a call that comes as Moscow appears to have launched a major offensive in the east. “Do not provoke your fate, take the only right decision, that of stopping military operations and laying down arms,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The Russian military has promised Ukrainian fighters from Mariupol, who still occupy the Azovstal industrial area, that “those who lay down their arms have a guarantee that they will survive” if surrendered today.
Moscow has offered a ceasefire of fire at 12 noon Moscow time (and Greek time) so that between “14:00 and 16:00 all Ukrainian armed units and foreign mercenaries leave (including Azovstal) laying down arms or ammunition.”/p>
Russia's Defense Ministry also demanded that Azovstal take steps to release civilians, if any.
Ukrainian authorities announced Monday that at least 1,000 civilians were hiding in underground shelters in Azovstal, adding that Russia is dropping heavy bombs on the Mariupol plant. “We call on the Kiev authorities to show common sense and order the fighters to stop their senseless resistance,” the Russian Defense Ministry said. p>
A few hours after this request, the Russian army claimed that it had opened a corridor from 14:00 Greek time so that the Ukrainian soldiers could leave in the Azovstal they had surrendered. The Russian Defense Ministry said a local ceasefire was in place to ensure a safe exit.
The Russian military also says it has deployed “three humanitarian phalanxes” on three roads north, west and east of Azovstal. These phalanxes, consisting of about forty vehicles, including ambulances, should allow “transport of people” according to Moscow.
Since the siege of the strategic port began in early March, Moscow has repeatedly called on Ukrainian forces to lay down their arms.
According to Moscow, more than a thousand Ukrainian soldiers surrendered in Mariupol last week, but hundreds more, according to pro-Russian separatists, are still under siege. Azovstal, where they are leading a fierce resistance. launched an attack on Azovstal.
On Russian television, Basurin also assured that no civilians were in the industrial zone, as opposed to with what the Ukrainian fighters on the field say.
