Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Defense Ministry to provide secure access to foreign media to show the real situation of Ukrainian troops surrounded in three regions.
“The Russian Defense Ministry has received an order from the country’s Supreme Commander-in-Chief to ensure unhindered passage for foreign journalists, including those from Ukraine, to visit areas in Krasnoarmesk, Dmitrov and Kupyansk where Ukrainian troops are surrounded,” official news agencies ‘Tass’ and ‘RIA Novosti’ reported, quoting a statement issued by the Defense Ministry.
“If necessary, the Russian military is ready to cease hostilities in these areas for five-six hours and provide unhindered entry and exit corridors for groups of foreign media representatives, including those from Ukraine, provided the security of both journalists and Russian military personnel is guaranteed,” the statement said.
Chief of the General Staff General Valery Gerasimov told President Vladimir Putin at a briefing on Sunday that Russian troops had surrounded and blockaded more than 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers.
Russian drones could be seen on government-owned TV channels dropping leaflets urging Ukrainian troops to surrender to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.