Russia calls on Ukrainian forces in Mariupol to lay down their arms
Russia has called on Ukrainian forces to lay down their arms in the southern port city of Mariupol, where Moscow says it is experiencing a "horrific humanitarian catastrophe".
"Lay down your arms," Colonel-General Mikhail Mezintsev, director of the Russian National Center for Defense Management, said in a briefing distributed by the Defense Ministry.
"A horrific humanitarian catastrophe is taking place... Those who lay down their arms are guaranteed safe passage out of Mariupol," Mizintsev added.
Mariupol has been hit by some of the heaviest bombardments since the start of the Russian war on Ukraine on February 24.
Many of its 400,000 residents are still trapped in the city without food, water or energy.
Mizintsev said the humanitarian corridors from Mariupol will open at 1000 Moscow time (0700 GMT) on March 21.
He added that Ukraine has until 5 a.m. Moscow time to respond to the offer of humanitarian corridors and lay down arms.
Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of failing to open such corridors in recent weeks.
Mizintsev said Russia did not use heavy weapons in Mariupol.
He added that Russia had evacuated 59,304 people from the city, but that 130,000 civilians were actually still being held hostage there.
He noted that Russia has evacuated 330,686 people from Ukraine since the operation began.
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