Nationalists preventing Ukrainian civilians from passing via humanitarian corridors toward Russia - Russian Defense Ministry

MOSCOW. March 5 (Interfax) - Nationalistic battalions are obstructing Ukrainian civilians from passing through humanitarian corridors toward Russia, Mikhail Mizintsev, head of the Russian National Defense Control Center, said at a press briefing on Saturday.

"Humanitarian corridors in the Mariupol and Volnovakha areas were open every day, but nationalistic battalions have categorically curbed attempts by civilians to exit toward the Russian Federation," Mizintsev said.

The routes and the entire transport logistics of the humanitarian corridors have been carefully elaborated and agreed upon with the Ukrainian side, and the Russian Armed Forces have ensured their security, he said.

"Unfortunately, as of now, we have trustworthy information indicating that none of the declared 200,000 refugees from Mariupol and 15,000 from Volnovakha has arrived at the humanitarian corridors that have been opened," Mizintsev said.