Accusings Ukraine For Failing To Evacuate Civilians From Mariupol, Russia's Defense Chief: Attacked By Mortars And Heavy Weapons

War-affected buildings and vehicles in Mariupol. (Wikimedia Commons/armyinform.com.ua)

JAKARTA - Russia has accused Ukraine of again thwarting efforts to evacuate civilians from Mariupol, citing attacks by soldiers and nationalist battalions in the region.

As a result of the attack, the evacuation of civilians and foreign nationals from Mariupol again failed, said the head of the Russian National Defense Management Center of Russia Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev.

"A well-organized humanitarian operation to rescue civilians and foreigners from Mariupol was cynically crushed by the Ukrainian side," he said, TASS reported on April 4.

"Part of the evacuation route near Mariupol came under intense attack from units of the Ukrainian army and nationalist battalions, which used mortars and heavy weapons," Mizintsev said.

He further explained, as a result of this, the humanitarian convoy, accompanied by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, had to wait two days for the ceasefire and Kyiv's confirmation of the ceasefire in Berdyansk and Mangush, he said, adding that there had been no ceasefire so far.

Colonel-General Mizintsev added that the Russian side created all conditions to ensure the evacuation of people from Mariupol to Berdyansk, from there they could reach Crimea or Zaporozhye.

"Russia supports humanitarian initiatives put forward by the leaders of France, Germany, and Turkey, while Kyiv officials cynically ignore them," he criticized.