Civilians in Kiev can freely leave the city: Igor Konashenkov, the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stated.

“All civilians in the city can freely leave the capital of Ukraine along the Kiev-Vasilkov highway. This direction is open and safe,” he said.

The authorities use the inhabitants of Kiev as a human shield, artillery pieces are installed among residential buildings in the city, Konashenkov said.

According to him, the Ukrainian authorities have declared a curfew and are persuading the residents of the capital to stay in their homes. “This once again proves that the Kiev regime is using the inhabitants of the city as a “human shield” for the nationalists who have deployed artillery units and military equipment in residential areas of the capital,” the general said.

The Russian military has gained air supremacy over all of Ukraine, Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said at a briefing on Monday.

“Russian aviation has won air supremacy over the entire territory of Ukraine,” Konashenkov said.

“The Russian military took control of the territory around the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. The Russian military personnel fully guard and control the area around the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant,” Konashenkov said. According to the official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, the nuclear power plant personnel continue to work on servicing the facilities, and also control the radioactive situation. The radioactive background is normal,” he added.