Moscow-Sana
The Russian army announced today the opening of a corridor for the besieged Ukrainian soldiers and militants at the Azovstal Factory in Mariupol who want to surrender and lay down their arms.
"Due to the catastrophic situation at the Azov-Stal metallurgical plant, the Russian forces today opened a corridor to allow the exit of Ukrainian army soldiers and militants of national formations who voluntarily lay down their arms," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry explained that a ceasefire is in effect at the site to secure the evacuation of fighters wishing to surrender.
For his part, Denis Pushlin, President of the Donetsk People's Republic, said that the militants of the Ukrainian Azov battalion holed up in the Azov-Stal plant in Mariupol are completely surrounded and their chances of survival are limited.
On the one hand, they have an order from Kyiv not to surrender.. On the other hand, they are well aware that if they lay down their arms, they will be subject to courts and penalties for being war criminals, Pushilin added, stressing that they have no more chance than laying down their arms and surviving.
Russian units and Donetsk People's Forces entered the city of Mariupol last March, and the city was almost completely cleared, while fighting is still going on in the area of the Azov Staal plant, where the remnants of the Azov extremist battalion and mercenaries are hiding.
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