MOSCOW, April 3. /TASS/. The Ukrainian side once again frustrated humanitarian operations to evacuate civilians and foreign nationals from Mariupol, Mikhail Mizintsev, chief of Russia’s National Defense Management Center, said on Sunday.

"The well-organized humanitarian operation to save civilians and foreigners from Mariupol were cynically broken down by the Ukrainian side, with the part of the evacuation route near Mariupol coming under intensive fire from Ukrainian army units and nationalist battalions, who used mortars and heavy weapons," he said.

As a result, the humanitarian convoy that was accompanied by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross has to wait for two days for the cessation of fire and Kiev’s confirmation of the ceasefire in Berdyansk and Mangush, he said, adding that no ceasefire has been established as of yet.

According to Mizintsev, 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 supported humanitarian initiatives advanced by the leaders of Francem Germany and Turkey while official Kiev cynically ignored them," he added.