Ukraine derails civilians evacuation from Azot chemical plant in Severodonetsk

The Ukrainian side has derailed civilian evacuation from the Azot chemical plant, where its armed forces are holed up, the commander of the LPR garrison force Alexander Nikishin said.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced the opening of a humanitarian corridor from the Azov plant in Severodonetsk on June 15.

"At the moment, the withdrawal of civilians from the territory of Azot has been completely thwarted by the enemy. In the morning, at about seven o'clock, an elderly man of 74 years old left the premises, he was alone. No one told the civilians there about the evacuation," he said.

Ukrainian troops holed up at the enterprise keep firing.

"There is no civilian movement, besides, a tank is moving there back and forth, and is firing. No personnel are visible, only a tank and a mortar are active," he added.

Nikishin said there were nearly 70 civilians at the Azot plant. No one of them has been informed about the evacuation efforts.

 He said that Ukrainian forces began shelling the make-shift evacuation center, the houses nearby sustained damage.

The representatives of the LPR People's Militia organizing the evacuation had to leave the area. *t