Russia’s Ministry of Defense has offered to cease all hostilities around the Azovstal steel plant in besieged Mariupol to allow civilians to leave “in any direction they choose.”
Highlights
- Russian government says it will allow civilians to leave in any direction they choose.
- Government says it has set up a round-the-clock humanitarian corridor for civilians.
- U.S.
- officials have said Russia has repeatedly broken its pledge to allow civilian access to the Azovstal factory in Ukraine.
- President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian troops to block the factory’s entrance to the city of Azovstopolopol, Ukraine, from April 25, to allow it to take over the area.
- Russia has also said it will not allow civilians access to its territory if they want to enter the Russian territory, as well as to the Russian military.