Russia pushes toward encircling Kyiv as assault enters 11th day
Kyiv, Mar 6 (EFE).- Russian forces are trying to encircle Kyiv from several directions as the war entered its 11th day on Sunday, the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine, (SSSCIP) reported.
Fighting has been taking place in the nearby towns of Irpin, Hostomel and Makariv, while the Zhytomyr highway area, located 144 kilometers west of Kyiv, remained the hottest spot, the security and intelligence body said in a Telegram post.
At least one person was killed and five others injured, including a child, after an airstrike was launched against Korosten in the Zhytomyr region, according to SSSCIP. Some 10 houses were also destroyed.
Fighting was reported in Chernihiv, to the north of Kyiv, while Russian troops are targeting the capital.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha remained under siege.
Some 400 civilians were evacuated from Volnovakha on Saturday after a temporary ceasefire for the opening of humanitarian corridors in eastern Ukraine was announced while in Mariupol, the plan fell apart due to renewed shelling along the evacuation route.
Both sides blamed the other for breaching the ceasefire.
Mariupol mayor Vadym Boichenko said earlier that there was no electricity or water, and that the 400,000 inhabitants of the strategic Ukrainian port city could not leave.
Eduard Basurin, the spokesman for the separatist-held Donetsk territory, said Sunday that the humanitarian corridors would be opened to allow civilians in Mariupol and Volnovakha to escape.
“In the morning, the humanitarian corridors will be opened again in both Mariupol and in Volnovakha,” he said.
On Saturday, the separatists claimed to have evacuated tens of civilians.
In the Ukrainian southern port city of Mykolaiv region, shelling was reported overnight. Three projectiles were fired at houses, according to official sources.EFE
io/smq/mp
