Azovstal Nationalists Will Not Hinder Establishing Peaceful Life in Mariupol: Peskov

The Ukrainian nationalists trapped in Azovstal will not hinder the establishment of a peaceful life in Mariupol, said Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Russian President, to reporters on Thursday, as reported by TASS.

“Mariupol, which has become a stronghold for nationalist formations, has been liberated. Today, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to President Vladimir Putin that it's now possible to start a peaceful life. The residents will be returned to their homes, which will happen now,” said the Kremlin spokesperson.

“As for Azovstal, this is a separate facility where the remaining group of Ukrainian nationalists is completely blocked,” Peskov stated.

In response to a clarifying question, he assured that the presence of Ukrainian formations in Azovstal “will not hinder” the establishment of a peaceful life in Mariupol.

Commenting on another question regarding the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops, Peskov recalled that Shoigu had already informed Putin about this earlier on Thursday. Overall, the Kremlin spokesperson assured reporters that the Russian special operation “continues according to plan.”