MOSCOW, May 12. /TASS/. Kiev obstructs evacuation of civilians, nationalists shell exits from the settlements they blocked with artillery and mortars, says Mikhail Mizintsev, head of Russian National Defense Control Center and inter-agency coordination response headquarters on humanitarian response in Ukraine.
"Any statements of the Ukrainian side regarding Russia’s alleged blocking of exit of civilians from settlements under its control appear absurd and cynical. It is Kiev authorities themselves who obstruct evacuations of civilians in every possible way. Militants of nationalist battalions systematically shell exits from settlements they blocked, using artillery and mortars," Mizintsev said.
He noted that Russia is working on evacuation of civilians and foreigners from dangerous regions. Every day, at 10:00 Moscow time, Russia opens humanitarian corridors on Kharkov, Lugansk, Donetsk and Crimean direction towards Russia.
"Furthermore, the Russian Federation is ready to promptly deploy additional corridors on any other direction and ensure safe evacuation of civilians both towards Russia and towards areas under Kiev authorities’ control, as well as to other foreign states," the general noted.
He underscored that a regime of silence is being strictly complied with on all routes, negotiated with the Kiev side, and the information about operation of humanitarian corridors is being daily relayed to Kiev, the UN, the OSCE and the International Committee of Red Cross.