Russia rejected calls[/B] to hold negotiations to open a humanitarian corridor to remove militants and civilians trapped in the Azovstal steel factory[/B] (file photo, above, by Reuters/Alexander Ermochenk) of Mariupol, Ukraine.
"Civilians can leave"
"The president (p.Russia's President Vladimir Putin) said it clearly: the civilians can leave, they can move in any direction they want, but the military must come out and lay down their weapons," Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Russian state news agency TASS.
Russia guarantees their lives and that they will be offered medical treatment if they need it, but nothing more, he added.
Russia guarantees their lives and that they will be offered medical treatment if they need it, but nothing more, he added.
Russia does not intend to allow them safe passage and Mr. Peskov insisted there was no question of negotiating that.
Odessa and Mikolaiv were shelled by Russian troops[/B], Ukrainian local military authorities said yesterday, as Moscow appeared to escalate its strikes in southern Ukraine.
"Hit again"
According to the command of the southern Ukrainian forces, Mikolaiv was "hit again by several Smerch missile launchers", resulting in homes, shops and cars being damaged.
The command, which gave an update via Facebook, did not mention any casualties.
Explosions were also reported in Odessa, where, however, Serhiy Brachuk, the commander of Ukrainian forces in the region, assured that anti-aircraft defenses were controlling the situation, without reporting any damage or casualties.
Source: APE
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