Moscow: Kiev authorities and Ukrainian extremists obstruct the exit of civilians to use them as human shields

 

The headquarters said in a statement issued today: “Despite the humanitarian initiative shown by Russia to evacuate civilians from the Azovstal Iron and Steel Plant, the Kiev authorities recklessly obstructed this humanitarian operation,” noting that since eight in the evening yesterday, no one has used the proposed humanitarian corridor.

 The headquarters added that while Kiev officials constantly announce numbers of women and children who claim that they are being held in underground facilities in Azovstal, on the other hand, they deliberately reject all humanitarian initiatives from the Russian side to take any practical measures to evacuate these people, which confirms the contempt of the authorities in Kiev about the fate of the people who are citizens of their country.

 

The headquarters indicated that it continues its responses in cooperation with the executive bodies authorized to monitor and record a number of horrific facts regarding the inhuman treatment of civilians by the Kyiv authorities, explaining that despite the obstacles created by Kyiv, Russia managed over the past 24 hours to evacuate 9,285 people, including 733 children from the dangerous regions of Ukraine and the popular republics of Donetsk and Luhansk to Russian territory.

 

The headquarters indicated that the number of evacuees since the beginning of the special military operation reached 975,234 people, including 178,091 children, while 127,486 special vehicles crossed the Russian borders at a rate of 1,215 vehicles per day, noting that more than 9,500 temporary residence centers throughout Russia continue to provide places for living, entertainment and meals. Hotspots for arrivals from Ukraine, where these centers are fully equipped with all the necessary equipment.

 

On the other hand, the headquarters said that the Ukrainian extremist nationalists continue to hold 90 foreign citizens from 5 countries hostage and use them as human shields. Moreover, 76 foreign ships from 18 countries are still being held in 7 Ukrainian ports subject to the danger of bombing and mines planted by the Kyiv authorities in its waters. On the other hand, Russia is taking a full set of measures to ensure the safety of civilian navigation in the waters of the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Mediterranean Sea.

N.R