Kiev allowed use of weapons against those fleeing to Russia

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Kiev allowed nationalists to use weapons against those who try to flee to Russia and to threaten to kill relatives, according to Col. Gen. Mikhail Mizintsev, the head of the Russian Defense Ministry's National Defense Control Center (NDCC).

"The Kiev regime has authorized nationalists to use weapons against those who are attempting to evacuate to Russia, threatening to kill relatives who remain on Ukrainian territory. Radicals also threaten physical harm against those who are trying to receive humanitarian assistance," the general said on Wednesday.

According to the general, the personnel located on two checkpoints of the so-called territorial defense on the Sumy-Grayvoron highway, wearing a civilian uniform and holding small arms and Molotov cocktails, are in charge of keeping the refugees from escaping.

"In Kharkiv, nationalists, under the threat of using weapons, are forcing local residents to set up barricades of car tires at every intersection in order to prevent civilians from accessing humanitarian corridors," the general said, adding that residents of cities and towns "have lost their already dubious faith in the current government, which prefers not to notice human suffering."

Ukraine: Humanitarian corridors opened in a number of cities

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk announced today that humanitarian corridors have been opened in a number of Ukrainian cities most notably Enerhodar and Mariupol to Zaporizhia, from Sumy to Poltava, not to mention other Ukrainian cities.

Enerhodar's head had announced earlier that a humanitarian corridor would be opened on Wednesday to evacuate the city's residents to Zaporizhia. Bucha authorities also said today that residents of the city, and of Vorzel would be evacuated to Kiev.

"From 09:00 [local time, 07:00 GMT], a ceasefire will be introduced on the following routes: Enerhodar - Zaporizhia, Sumy - Poltava, Izyum - Lozova, Mariupol - Zaporizhia, Volnovakha - Pokrovsk, Vorzel, Borodyanka, Bucha, Irpin, Hostomel (Kiev region) - Kiev," Vereshchuk told reporters.

Moreover, 55 children are to be evacuated from Vorzel's orphanage, the Deputy Prime Minister added.