The senior official thus commented on the statements of Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk on Kiev’s desire to sign a document on the departure and transfer of those involved from the territory of the metallurgical facility.

“We proceeded from the words of our president about the possibility for all civilians to leave the territory of the plant and leave it in any direction they choose, which was carried out,” she told reporters.

The head of the Kremlin press office stressed that, in the case of the military, “it was said that they could also leave by laying down their arms, they would be treated in the appropriate manner, all the wounded would receive the necessary medical care.”

He pointed out that those were the words of the Russian president, so that is the order of the supreme commander, “and that is what we start from”.

In statements the day before, Vereshchuk indicated that Kiev wants to sign a document on how the evacuation of the territory of the Azovstal plant will be carried out.

pgh/arm/mem/mml