Aleksandr Khodakovsky, commander of the so-called ‘DPR Vostok Battalion’ claims that a group of Ukrainian soldiers walked out of the Azovstal steel plant carrying white flags.
“A group of enemy soldiers took the road from Azovstal, they were carrying white flags. Russian truce envoys headed towards the group. This is the first face-to-face meeting since the start of the Mariupol siege,” he wrote on his Telegram.
The Azov Regiment officials have explained that white flags are used by both sides for civilian evacuation for the fourth time and are common practice.
Nearly 500 people were evacuated from the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol and the surrounding areas, UN Secretary General António Guterres said on his Twitter yesterday.
The Russian officials announced on 4 May that Russia would open civilian escape corridors from the steelworks. The corridors were announced to be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on 5, 6 and 7 May. The ‘DPR’ and ‘LNR’ militias promised to hold fire and allow escaping civilians to flee towards Russia or Ukraine, optionally.