Evacuating Civilians From Mariupol, Russia Asks Turkey To Help Ukraine Comply With Ceasefire

Ukrainian refugees. (Wikimedia Commons/manhhai)

JAKARTA - Russia hopes for Turkey's support regarding the opening of a humanitarian corridor in Mariupol, by 'persuading' Ukraine regarding a ceasefire so that the evacuation process of civilians can proceed.

The head of the Russian Center for Defense Management Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev said Russia was ready to open a humanitarian corridor from Mariupol on Monday.

"But the success of the humanitarian operation will depend on the Ukrainian side alone. Militants of the nationalist unit are not controlled by Kyiv officials and continue to fire on humanitarian corridors," TASS reported on April 4.

"That is why the Ukrainian side has not carried out its obligations regarding the evacuation of civilians. Not a single humanitarian convoy has been able to reach Mariupol from the west," he continued.

"We expect the support of our Turkish counterparts to make the Ukrainian authorities strictly carry out their obligations on the establishment of a humanitarian corridor, as well as adherence to the ceasefire during the operation for the evacuation of people from Mariupol," Mizintsev hoped.

He stressed that Russia drew the attention of the International Committee of the Red Cross, OSCE, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and other international organizations to define Kyiv's inhumane and criminal policies as a violation of international humanitarian law.

As reported earlier, Mizintsev 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 these attacks, the evacuation of civilians and foreign nationals from Mariupol again failed.

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

"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.

To note, on April 2, Turkey's Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar stated, Ankara could be able to provide ship support for the evacuation of civilians and those injured in Mariupol.