MOSCOW, March 24. /TASS/. Over 17,100 people were evacuated to Russia from dangerous areas of Ukraine, Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics without Kiev’s participation, Russian National Defense Control Center head Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev announced Thursday.
"Despite all difficulties and obstructions, created by Kiev, in the past 24 hours, without participation of official authorities, a total of 17,105 people, including 4,095 children were evacuated from dangerous areas of Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics and Ukraine. Overall, since the beginning of the special military operation, 401,216 people were evacuated, including 84,865 children," Mizintsev said.
According to the Colonel General, 1,881 cars crossed the Russian border in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number since the beginning of the operation to 47,551 cars.
Mizintsev also disclosed that 4,453 people were evacuated from the city of Mariupol in the past 24 hours, with a total of 86,718 people evacuated since the beginning of the operation.
"Despite the humanitarian corridors being open daily, Ukrainian nationalists continue to hold over 4.5 million civilians hostage in Kiev, Kharkov, Chernigov, Sumy, Mariupol and over 20 other major settlements," the military official said, adding that 6,837 foreigners from 26 states remain inside Ukrainian cities.