Conflicts & War

Russia announces partial ceasefire for 2 humanitarian corridors in Ukraine

Moscow, Mar 5 (EFE).- Russia on Saturday announced a temporary ceasefire for the opening of humanitarian corridors in order for civilians to be evacuated from two cities in eastern Ukraine.

“Humanitarian passages and exit routes have been coordinated with the Ukrainian side,” the defense ministry said, according to Russian news agency, Interfax.

“Starting at 10 a.m. Moscow time (07:00 GMT) today, on March 5, the Russian side declares a ceasefire and opens humanitarian passages for civilians to leave Mariupol and Volnovakha,” it said.

On Thursday, in the second round of negotiations held in Belarusian territory, Russian and Ukrainian delegations agreed to open humanitarian corridors and declare a temporary ceasefire in from areas where fighting is taking place.

Vadim Boychenko, the mayor of Mariupol, a major trading port on the Sea of Azov, said on Telegram that “the timing of the opening of the humanitarian ‘green’ corridor and the beginning of the regime of silence for Mariupol is currently underway.”

“This will allow the restoration of the city’s critical infrastructure – light, water and mobile communications – to begin. It will also be possible to provide Mariupol with essential products and medicines.”

On Friday, for the fifth day the city of around 450,000 in Donetsk region was besieged by Russian forces. Volnovakha is located about 65 kilometers north of Mariupol.

Overnight, Boychenko said that the city was under Russian attack and blockaded, and called for a ceasefire “so that we can restore critical infrastructure and a humanitarian ‘green’ corridor so that we can deliver food and medicine to the city.”

“Our esteemed Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the Azov Regiment, the Marines, border guards, police and rescuers are standing on the outskirts of the city. On the ninth day of the war, our defenders did not allow the invaders into Mariupol,” he said.

The mayor said early Thursday that the city was on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe as Mariupol was left without electricity, water and heating due to constant bombing by the Russian army. EFE

cae/tw

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