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126 persons taken away from Azovstal, adjacent houses in two days - Defense Ministry

According to the Ministry, 11 citizens freed on May 1 voluntarily decided to stay in the Donetsk People’s Republic and 69 civilians decided to go to the territory under control of the Kiev regime

MOSCOW, May 2. /TASS/. Over 120 individuals were taken away from the territory of the Azovstal plant and the adjacent houses in Mariupol over two days of the operation, on April 30 and May 1, the Russian Ministry of Defense said on Monday.

"As a result of the operation performed on the initiative of President of the Russian Federation V. V. Putin to liberate civilians held in Mariupol at the Azovstal plant by Ukrainian nationalists, 25 persons left nearby houses on the first day, April 30, and 21 individuals more from the plant territory. All 46 individuals voluntarily decided to remain in the Donetsk People’s Republic. On the second day of the operation on May 1, 80 more civilians held by Ukrainian nationalists were freed from the plant territory, with lodging for the night and meals provided to them and the required medical aid offered," the Ministry said.

According to the Ministry, 11 citizens freed on May 1 voluntarily decided to stay in the Donetsk People’s Republic and 69 civilians decided to go to the territory under control of the Kiev regime. They were handed over to UN and ICRC representatives and departed in direction of Zaporozhye city as part of the transport column.