Russia has announced a ceasefire and a temporary withdrawal of its own troops for further evacuations of civilians from the besieged steel mill in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol. Escape corridors should be set up today, tomorrow and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time (7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CEST), the coordination staff for humanitarian measures set up by the Russian Ministry of Defense announced this evening.
“During this period, the armed forces of Russia and formations of the Donetsk People’s Republic will cease all hostilities and units will be withdrawn to a safe distance,” the statement said. Civilians rescued from the Azov-Stahl steel mill can then decide for themselves whether they want to stay in Ukraine or be taken to Russia.
Zelenskyj asks UN for help
According to Ukrainian sources, civilians are still waiting to be evacuated, including over 30 children. According to Kyiv, 344 people were rescued yesterday from Mariupol and the surrounding area to Ukrainian-controlled territory. The refugees had been picked up throughout the day from stations in Mariupol, Manhush, Berdyansk, Tokmak and Vasylivka. There was no information on how many of them had stayed in the steel mill.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for help to save the lives of the injured trapped at the Azov Steel Plant in Mariupol and to help evacuate them. “The lives of the people who are still there are in danger. Everyone is important to us,” Zelenskyy said in a phone conversation with Guterres.
Kyiv: Russian soldiers on Azov-Stahl premises
According to Ukraine, Russian troops entered the Azov steel compound in Mariupol. One is still in contact with the defenders, an adviser to the Ukrainian President Selenskyj told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Earlier, the mayor of Mariupol, Vadym Boichenko, spoke of fierce fighting for the Azov steel plant and thus the last place of retreat for Ukrainian soldiers in the city.
Russia had recently denied a major attack on the steelworks. “There is no storming,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. “The Commander-in-Chief has publicly given the order to cease all attacks,” Peskov said, referring to an April 21 order from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Almost three weeks ago, Putin ordered the plant to be besieged – so tightly that “a fly can no longer get out”.
Russian military parade in Mariupol?
According to Ukrainian intelligence, a “large-scale propaganda campaign is underway” in the city, which is largely controlled by Russia. According to Kiev, Russia is also planning a military parade in the largely destroyed city on the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany on May 9.
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