Russia declares ceasefire in Ukraine
The Russian Defense Ministry said it would halt its offensive in Ukraine at 10 a.m. on March 5 (Moscow time) so people could leave the city of Mariupol near the Sea of Azov.
 |
| Ukrainian people take refuge. Photo: AP |
"Today, at 10:00 a.m. on March 5 (Moscow time), the Russian side announced a ceasefire and opened humanitarian corridors for people in Mariupol and Volnovakha to leave," the Russian Defense Ministry announced on March 5.
For his part, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mikhail Podolyak said that about 200,000 people are trying to evacuate Mariupol and 20,000 people want to leave the city of Volnovakha in the Donetsk region.
Volnovakha and Mariupol, one of Ukraine's largest port cities, are currently surrounded by forces from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and Lugansk People's Republic. Authorities in Mariupol say they want to use the ceasefire to restore vital infrastructure in the city and provide much-needed food and medicine to residents.
AP also reported that the Russian military will monitor the ceasefire in two regions of Ukraine to facilitate the evacuation of civilians, but there was no immediate confirmation from Ukraine. This would be the first breakthrough for civilians to escape the war.
Head of Ukraine's Security Council Oleksiy Danilov earlier asked the Russian side to create humanitarian corridors for women, children and elderly people to leave the fighting areas, calling such corridors a "top priority issue".
