Evacuation of civilians from Mariupol failed again for a 2nd time – both sides blame each other
Convoy of buses left Zaporizhzhia and with the details of evacuation being announced by the Ukrainian side, this evacuation of Mariupol looks to be very promising.
But somehow, this evacuation failed again.
According to the Ukrainians:
The Russians again disrupted the opening of the humanitarian corridor. The humanitarian convoy of 8 trucks, as well as 30 buses that were supposed to take people out of Mariupol, was not missed by the Russians. The gathering was to take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
At about 9:20 a.m., grad shelling began. About 2,000 citizens from India, Turkey, Pakistan and other countries – foreign students – suffer from hunger, shelling along with Ukrainians.
I have a question for the embassies of these countries: We had correspondence all night about how to evacuate your citizens. Turkish President Erdogan’s talks with Putin took place today. Does Mr. Erdogan know that today 70 citizens of his country were unable to leave Mariupol together with thousands of Ukrainians?
The whole world needs to explain to itself what is happening. Today there are no citizens of China, India, Turkey or others. We help everyone. Everyone’s life hurts us. Why, today, when you see your citizens being killed, can’t unite to tell Putin that you can’t do that?
Ukraine Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk
Sputnik correspondent interview suggest another story:
A resident of a village near Mariupol told the correspondent of @SputnikLive that she got out of the combat zone “without adventures.” Because the Russian Armed Forces were standing nearby “The Russians met us and instructed us to accompany the car.” They organized a humanitarian corridor and evacuated civilians. @SputnikLive
Source: https://t.me/sputniklive/32638
The Ukrainian military shot at everyone who tried to leave the village of Vinogradne of the Mariupol City Council. Including in passenger civilian cars. Also, the Armed Forces of Ukraine blew up the bridge that connected the village with the city. This was told to the correspondent of the @SputnikLive by a resident of the eastern outskirts of the city, who managed to escape. The area where his house is located was occupied by the Armed Forces of Russia and the DPR, which made it possible for local residents to leave the combat zone. The Ukrainian side did not even try to organize the evacuation of residents, Yuri said. @SputnikLive
Source: https://t.me/sputniklive/32635
There is also accusation from the Donetsk PR forces that the Ukrainian forces fired at the civilians:
Today, when trying to leave the city of Mariupol along the humanitarian corridor of the M23 highway in the direction of Novoazovsk, a column of civilians was shot by Ukrainian militants from the nationalist battalion “Azov”. According to preliminary information, two civilians were killed and four were injured, according to the DPR NM.
Source: https://t.me/donvremya/2578
Reportedly, the food reserves in Mariupol will last only for 1-2 more days. Although it is unclear how they come out with this estimate and how are everyone going to reach those “food reserves”.
For now, it no longer matter who is right and wrong, the civilians are stuck regardless who were the ones (and would be the one in future evacuations) to break the ceasefire agreements.
(If you are wondering why it’s all telegram sources: Do note that most of Russia no longer have free access to Twitter… so sources are mostly from Telegram channels)