130 Thousand People Still Locked Up: Russia Will Open Humanitarian Corridor From Mariupol, Including For Ukrainian And Foreign Troops

Bus pengungsi Ukraina. (Wikimedia Commons/kyivcity.gov.ua/Kyiv City State Administration/Olexiy Samsonov)

JAKARTA - The humanitarian corridor from Mariupol, Ukraine will be opened from the east and west from ten a.m. on Monday, Mikhail Mizintsev, head of Russia's National Defense Management Center, said on Sunday.

According to Mizintsev, about 130.000 civilians, including 184 foreigners from six countries, are still held hostage in the city.

"Taking this into account, Russia will open a humanitarian corridor from Mariupol in the east and west, based on an agreement with the Ukrainian side starting at 10:00 Moscow time tomorrow, on March 21 to save human lives and preserve Mariupol's infrastructure," he said, as reported by TASS, March 21.

He added that Russian troops and units of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) would declare a ceasefire and ensure its observance from 09:30 a.m. Moscow time.

At the same time, he also said that Russian troops would give nationalists the possibility to leave Mariupol unarmed through the humanitarian corridor from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Moscow time on March 21.

"Ukrainian armed units and foreign mercenaries will be able to leave the city without weapons and ammunition, along the route agreed with Ukraine from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Moscow time," he said, adding that from 12:00 p.m. it was planned to let convoys leave. humanity reaches the city.

He further explained that Mariupol residents would be free to choose the humanitarian corridor to leave the city.

"Every Mariupol resident and foreign national will be guaranteed a voluntary choice of one of the humanitarian corridors or the right to live in an unblocked city," he explained.

Illustration of Ukrainian refugees at the border. (Wikimedia Commons/kyivcity.gov.ua/Kyiv City State Administration/Olexiy Samsonov)

According to Mizintsev, each convoy will be escorted by bomb squads to clear mines to ensure the safe evacuation of people.

Mizintsev said Russia delivered 3.799 tonnes of cargo to settlements in the Lugansk region and the Donetsk People's Republic, Kyiv, Zaporozhye, Chernigov, Kharkov and Kherson in Ukraine.

"During 492 humanitarian actions, Russia delivered 3,799 tons of cargo to the settlements of the People's Republic of Lugansk and Donetsk, Kyiv, Zaporozhye, Chernigov, Kharkov and the Kherson region (Ukraine)," he said.

In the past 24 hours, a total of 28 humanitarian actions were held, with 180 tonnes of food, essential goods, and medicine handed over to civilians yesterday.

"A total of 21 humanitarian actions planned today are being carried out in Lugansk and the Donetsk People's Republic, Kyiv, Chernigov and Zaporozhye, with 482 tonnes of perishable food and essential goods handed over to the civilian population," he added.

Minzintsev added that Russia announced 8 humanitarian corridors for March 20, with Ukraine announcing 7 additional routes.

"Starting at 10:00 a.m. today, we once again opened and secured humanitarian corridors in the direction of Kyiv, Chernigov, Sumy, and Kharkov: one corridor in each direction to the east, towards Russia. One corridor in each direction to the west, towards the western border of Ukraine through the territory under the control of the Kyiv authorities," he said.

Interestingly, According to Mizintsev Kyiv continues to hinder the evacuation of civilians to Russian territory.

"Meanwhile, Kyiv officials announced seven more humanitarian corridors: in the direction of Kyiv, Kharkov and Zaporozhye," concluded the general.