Defense Ministry announces humanitarian corridor for foreigners after Erdogan's request

Russian troops will assist in the evacuation of citizens of other states from Mariupol, a humanitarian corridor to Berdyansk will be opened from midnight on April 3 and a “silence regime” will be guaranteed, said Mikhail Mizintsev, head of the National Defense Control Center.

According to him, his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin with this request.

“A decision was made to provide full assistance in the evacuation of citizens of foreign states held hostage by the remaining militants of the nationalist battalions in certain areas of Mariupol,” Mizintsev said.

After the opening of the humanitarian corridor, Russian troops will strictly follow the “silence regime” on the route of movement, Mizintsev added. Having reached Berdyansk, foreigners will be able to use any humanitarian route, he continued - to proceed to the regions controlled by the Ukrainian authorities, by land transport to the Crimea, or by sea transport in selected directions.