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Military operation in Ukraine

Some 80 civilians evacuated from Azovstal, says Russian defense ministry

All civilians evacuated were carried to Bezymennoye, the ministry said, adding that "the civilians evacuated by the Russian military from the Azovstal plant willing to enter the regions controlled by the Kiev regime were delivered to representatives of the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross"

MOSCOW, May 1. /TASS/. Some 80 civilians, including children and women, held by Ukrainian nationalists have been evacuated from the territory of Azovstal thanks to the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

"Thanks to the initiative of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin 80 civilians, including women, children, held by Ukrainian nationalists were evacuated from the territory of the Azovstal plant in Mariupol. The divisions of the Russian Armed Forces and the DPR People’s Militia opened a humanitarian corridor and ensured ceasefire for safe evacuation of civilians," the statement said.

All civilians evacuated were carried to Bezymennoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), the ministry said, adding that "the civilians evacuated by the Russian military from the Azovstal plant willing to enter the regions controlled by the Kiev regime were delivered to representatives of the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross."

Earlier on May 1, the Russian Ministry of Defense told reporters that two groups of civilians left residential buildings adjacent to the territory of the Azovstal metallurgical plant along the humanitarian corridor on April 30.

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Military operation in Ukraine

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