The Russian military has resumed offensive operations in Ukraine at 18:00 Moscow time, as Kiev does not want to influence the nationalists or prolong the silence. Spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry Major General Igor Konashenkov told reporters, RIA Novosti reported.

According to the latter, the nationalist battalions took advantage of the silence, regrouped and strengthened their positions.

As reported earlier by the Russian Ministry of Defense, a state of silence was declared on Saturday at starting 10:00,for the exit of civilians from Mariupol and regional center Volnovakha north of Mariupol.

According to the head of the National Defense Control Center of the Russian Federation, Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev, for this purpose, the routes of humanitarian corridors and transport logistics were carefully coordinated, and the Russian Armed Forces ensured their security, about which the ICRC representatives in Moscow were informed.

As Mizintsev said earlier, in Kharkov and Sumy, as well as in the Volnovakh and Mariupol directions, the nationalists prevented the evacuation of the civilian population to safe places. The radicals threatened civilians with physical violence, imposed a curfew, and mined exits from settlements, he stressed.

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It should be reminded that in the early morning of 24 February, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a message announcing the decision to launch a special military operation in Donbas.

“Circumstances require us to take decisive and immediate action. The Donbas People’s Republics have appealed to Russia. I have decided to launch a special military operation in this regard,” Putin said in a televised address to Russian citizens.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that from 5:00 am (7:00 am Yerevan time) on Thursday, the Russian Armed Forces carried out intensive attacks on Ukrainian military facilities and airports.

The VerkhovnaRada has declared martial law in Ukraine.