China News Agency, Moscow, May 2 (Reporter Tian Bing) The Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement on the 2nd that during the two-day operation on April 30 and May 1, 126 civilians were taken from Mariupol Azov. The steel plant and its surrounding area were rescued and evacuated.
According to the website of the Russian Ministry of Defense on the same day, on April 30, 21 civilians were evacuated from the Azov steel plant in Mariupol, and another 25 people were evacuated from the houses around the steel plant.
All 46 voluntarily stayed in Donetsk.
On May 1, another 80 civilians were evacuated from the Azov steel plant.
These personnel were provided with accommodation, food and necessary medical assistance.
Among the civilians evacuated on May 1, 11 voluntarily stayed in Donetsk, and the remaining 69 intended to go to areas controlled by the Ukrainian government.
The Russian army has handed them over to representatives of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
At present, the civilians evacuated from the Azov Steel Plant are heading to Zaporozhye by car, and the Russian army is responsible for ensuring the safety of the humanitarian convoy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media on the 1st that the United Nations representatives and the Ukrainian working group are working to evacuate more civilians from the Azov steel plant, and the first 100 evacuees will be sent to Zaporozhye that day.
Ukrainian officials have previously said that there are about 1,000 local women, children and the elderly in the Azov steel plant.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Konashenkov reported on the 2nd that the Russian army continued to carry out special military operations in Ukraine, hitting 36 Ukrainian military installations with high-precision air-based missiles that day.
Since the special military operation, the Russian army has destroyed a total of 146 fixed-wing aircraft, 112 helicopters, 690 drones, 285 anti-aircraft missile systems, 2,760 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, 316 multiple rocket launchers, 1246 field artillery and mortars, and 2578 special military vehicles.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Italian media on the 1st that Russia did not ask Ukrainian President Zelensky to surrender, but asked him to order the release of all civilians and stop resistance.
Russia's goals do not include regime change in Ukraine.
He also pointed out that Russia will, as always, solemnly celebrate the Victory Day of the Great Patriotic War on May 9, but will not artificially end its military operations in Ukraine before a certain date, including Victory Day.
The progress of the special Russian military operation in Ukraine depends first and foremost on minimizing any risk to civilians and Russian soldiers.
During his visit to Russia on April 26 and his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, UN Secretary-General Guterres said that the UN is willing to work with the ICRC to cooperate with the Russian and Ukrainian authorities to help people evacuate.
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