Russia proposes ceasefire around Azovstal factory in Ukraine

CNN and RT news agency quoted the announcement as saying, the Russian Armed Forces and Donbass will cease fire around the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, Ukraine from 2pm Moscow time today (April 25), allowing civilians to evacuate to safety.

Russian forces and Donbass have controlled most of the city of Mariupol, but a small number of Ukrainian soldiers are still entrenched in the Azovstal factory. However, Ukrainian President Zelensky said last week that about 1,000 civilians were still in the factory.

In the past, Russia has suggested that the Ukrainian fighters lay down their weapons, but they refused. Last week, Russian President Putin ordered the attacks on the plant to be canceled and a blockade order instead.

According to Lieutenant General Mikhail Mizintsev, head of the Russian Defense Control Center, the safe corridor from Azovstal has remained open since March 21. General Mizintsev added that Ukrainian troops should show their readiness to accept the ceasefire by flying white flags around the factory.

However, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk stated that today Kiev and Moscow have not reached an agreement on a safe corridor from the Azovstal plant.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, information about the ceasefire and the safe corridor will be transmitted to the Ukrainian side by radio every 30 minutes. According to the CEO of the company that owns the Azovstal factory, the situation inside the factory has reached the point of disaster, families running out of drinking water, food and essentials.

The battle at Mariupol lasted almost two months.

Moscow suspects Kiev of sabotaging oil depots

The Guardian newspaper quoted from Russian media as saying that this morning (April 25) big fires broke out in two oil storage depots in the city of Bryansk, more than 100km from the border with Ukraine. According to Russia, it seems to be an act of sabotage by Kiev.

The first fire broke out at a civilian facility containing 10,000 tons of fuel, the second fire broke out at a military fuel warehouse containing 5,000 tons.

Bryansk, about 160km northeast of the Ukrainian border, is a Russian logistics base serving Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine.

Military analyst Rob Lee said that based on the images obtained, the fire appeared to have been caused by an act of sabotage by Ukraine. “It looked like something was flying in the air before the explosion. I think it could be a Ukrainian attack, but can’t be sure. It’s important that those two locations are not far from the border.”

Mr. Lee added that the fires could be caused by Tochka-U tactical ballistic missiles. According to him, this type of missile can hit both targets if it is deployed near the border of Russia and Ukraine.

Hoai Linh