The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation set forth an ultimatum to the defenders of Mariupol. Russian edition RIA Novosti said about it with reference to the statement of the Head of the National Center for Defense Management of the Russian Federation, General Colonel Mykhailo Mizintsev.
Russia offers from 10:00 to 12:00 on Monday to organize the exit from the city of Ukrainian military and "foreign mercenaries" without weapons - in this case, they are guaranteed to save lives. After that, they promise to skip humanitarian convoys to the city and evacuate civilians from Mariupol. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation insists on a written response from Ukraine up to 5 a.m. on Monday.
"The authorities of Mariupol now have the opportunity to make a choice and come over to the people’s side, otherwise the military tribunal that awaits them is only a little that they deserve for their terrible crimes, which the Russian side very carefully documents," said Mizintsev.
According to him, to save civilians from 10 am on March 21, humanitarian corridors will be opened from Mariupol in both eastern and western directions.
Representatives of the UN, OSCE and the Red Cross were invited to accompany this humanitarian operation "on the ground."
Earlier, representatives of Ukraine and international organizations repeatedly stated that the Russian army surrounding Mariupol, has repeatedly blocked attempts to deliver humanitarian aid to the city or to ensure organized exit of civilians.
According to Ukrainian officials, up to 350 thousand citizens can stay in Mariupol; The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation calls the figure 130 thousand people.
Earlier, of the seven humanitarian corridors scheduled for March 20, four worked. A total, 7,295 people were evacuated in a day.