MOSCOW, April 26. /TASS/. The Ukrainian forces are obliged to release all civilians from the premises of the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, if there are any, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with visiting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Moscow on Tuesday.

Putin explained that the Azovstal plant was sealed off and no combat operations were underway there.

"True, we do hear the Ukrainian authorities say that there are civilians (in the Azovstal plant). But then the Ukrainian forces are obliged to let them go. Otherwise, they act the way terrorists do in many countries of the world, like the Islamic State (terrorist group outlawed in Russia - TASS) in Syria, by using the civilian population as a shield," Putin said. "To let these people go is a very simple thing. Nothing can be easier."

"You say, Russia’s humanitarian corridors do not work. Mr. Secretary-General, you have been misinformed: these corridors do function," Putin said. He stressed that as many as 130,000-140,000 people had left Mariupol with Russia’s assistance. "They are free to go where they wish. Some would like to move to Russia, and others to some other places in Ukraine. Anywhere! We do not hold them. They have our all-round assistance and support," Putin said.

"Those civilians who may be on the territory of the Azovstal steel plant - if any - are free to do the same. The example of civilized attitude to people is obvious," he stressed.

In the Russian president’s opinion, "using civilians as a human shield is nothing but crime."

Ukrainian POWs

Putin noted that the example of other Ukrainian servicemen, who have surrendered to the Russian troops, may serve as a good example for militants holed up in Azovstal.

"We are in touch with those who are holed up in dungeons of Azovstal. They have a good example of their comrades in arms, who have walked out and laid down their weapons," the president said.

In his words, almost 1,300 people have surrendered to Russian troops in other areas.

"In reality, the number is larger. Some of them are wounded, injured. They are being kept in absolutely normal conditions, the injured receive professional medical assistance from our doctors," Putin said.

‘Mr. Secretary-General, if you, as well as UN representatives and Red Cross specialists, are willing to take a look at how they [prisoners of war] are being treated and how we are helping the injured - you are welcome, we are ready," Putin said, inviting the UN chief to discuss the topic.