Russia tells Ukrainian troops in Mariupol to lay down arms

Ukraine and Russia have failed to agree about humanitarian convoys for the evacuation of civilians from war-affected areas

Russia told Ukrainian forces fighting in the besieged city of Mariupol to lay down their arms on Sunday to save their lives.

Thirty minutes after the ultimatum, there were no immediate reports of activity in the strategic southeastern port. Air raid sirens sounded across the country, a regular occurrence, but there were no reports of any strikes.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said its troops had cleared the urban area of Mariupol and only a small contingent of Ukrainian fighters remained inside a steelworks in the city on Saturday.

Moscow’s claim to have all but taken control of Mariupol, scene of the war’s heaviest fighting and worst humanitarian catastrophe, could not be independently verified. It would be the first major city to have fallen to Russian forces since the Feb. 24 invasion.

“Taking into account the catastrophic situation that has developed at the Azovstal metallurgical plant, as well as being guided by purely humane principles, the Russian Armed Forces offer the militants of nationalist battalions and foreign mercenaries from 06:00 (Moscow time) on April 17, 2022, to stop any hostilities and lay down their arms,” the defence ministry said in a statement.

“All who lay down their arms are guaranteed that their lives will be spared,” it said, adding that the defenders could leave the plant by 10 a.m. without arms or ammunition.

There was no immediate response from Kyiv.