Mariupol Officials Refuse To Surrender City Despite Invaders’ Ultimatums
Russian occupying forces urge Mariupol officials to surrender to the Russians, otherwise threatening them with grave consequences.
The press release of the Russian Defense Ministry was published by Russian state media.
The Russian propaganda agency RIA referred to a comment made by the head of the Russian National Defense Operations Center, Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev.
When addressing Mariupol officials, Mizintsev stated that the city administration had “a choice” to either surrender or continue to fight back. His statement suggested that should the city officials snub the invaders’ demands, Mariupol’s administration would face grave consequences, but did not specify what he meant exactly.
The city mayor’s advisor Petro Andriushchenko said that the response to Russian invaders’ demands was ready.
– The word is, the Russians urge the Mariupol Mayor’s Office to defect to Russia’s side. They gave us until morning to come up with an answer. Why wait so long when we have the answer already. F*ck off from Mariupol, – Petro Andriushchenko posted.
The Ukrainian government also responded to the ultimatums given by Russian occupying forces to Mariupol officials. Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister, Minister for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk told the details of Russia’s ultimatum.
– It (the letter from Russia, – ed.) has eight pages of historical references and other drivel. They sent the exact same letter to the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross hoping that international institutions will respond and put pressure on Ukraine. That didn’t happen. Surrender and disarmament are out of the question. We have already notified the Russian side, – she commented to Ukrayinska Pravda.
Iryna Vereshchuk added that she had pointed out to the Russian side that Russia better provided a corridor rather than writing long-winded, eight-page letters.
Sources: CNN, Ukrayinska Pravda, Petro Andriushchenko