“The holding by the Nazis of Azov and foreign mercenaries of civilian hostages, if any, proves that they are not “defenders”, but complete terrorists,” the ministry said in a statement.
The Russian Ministry of Defense noted that the procedure for the exit of civilians from the territory of Azovstal for subsequent evacuation "is brought to the Nazis every hour," however, the Nazis ignore the demands to release women and children allegedly with militants for free travel in any direction.
Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the assault on Azovstal in Mariupol would take three to four days.
President Vladimir Putin called the storming of the industrial zone inappropriate and ordered it to be cancelled.
At the same time, he ordered "to block the industrial zone so that the fly does not fly."