Russia urges Ukrainian forces to surrender, warns of 'terrible catastrophe' unfolding

As Ukrainian City Mariupol continues to remain under heavy bombardment, Russian forces have given Ukrainian forces a deline till 5:00 AM (Moscow time) (2 AM GMT) on Monday, March 21 to lay down ir arms in city citing a "terrible humanitarian catastrophe" unfolding. As reported by Ukrainian media,  director of Russian National Defence Management Center, Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev during a briefing on Sunday h asked forces to lay down ir arms stating that a terrible humanitarian catastrophe has developed and furr all those who lay ir arms will be provided a safe passage out of city. He also claimed that humanitarian corridors will be opened for civilians.

According to multiple reports including Russian state-media Tass, Mizintsev also noted that around 1,30,000 civilians followed by 184 foreign nationals from or countries are currently held hostage in city and furr in order to save human lives and preserve infrastructure of city, Russian Federation on Monday, March 21 will open humanitarian corridors from Mariupol to east and, in agreement with Ukrainian side, to west. 

Meanwhile, Mizintsev also claimed that certain Ukrainian “bandits”, “neo-Nazis” and nationalists are engaging in carrying out “mass terror” and are going on a killing spree in city.

However, on or hand, as reported by Ukrayinska Pravda, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk has turned down deline request and said that re can be no question of any surrender or laying down of arms. "We have alrey informed Russian side about it", she said. 

Mariupol is one of worst-affected cities in Ukraine

Notably, Mariupol has remained on edge since Russia started its military operations in Ukraine. city has received some of heaviest bombardments and attacks over past few weeks now. Following this, thousands of residents continue to remain trapped in city without necessary supplies.

Speaking on same, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also expressed concern on  crisis situation in city and said that Mariupol terror will be remembered for centuries to come. Stating that "Mariupol will go down in history as one of modern warfare's ugliest sieges", he claimed Russians are committing multiple war crimes over re. 

Image: AP