Russia declares temporary ceasefire in Ukraine
What you need to know:
- Civilians will start being evacuated from the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol Saturday, city officials said, after surrounding Russian forces announced a ceasefire to allow its population to leave.
- Mariupol, a southern city of about 450,000 people on the Azov Sea, will begin evacuations at 0900 GMT (1200Hrs EAT), city hall announced on social media in a message that added, "it will be possible to leave the city by private transport."
Russia's defence ministry announced has declared a temporary ceasefire Saturday to allow residents of two Ukrainian cities that were surrounded by Russian forces, including the strategic port city of Mariupol, to evacuate.
"Today, March 5, from 10 am Moscow time (0700 GMT), the Russian side declares a regime of silence and opens humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha," it said.
The ministry clarified that the location of the humanitarian corridors and exit points had been determined in agreement with the Ukrainian authorities, according to Russian news agencies.
Russian forces have been operating in Ukraine since February 24.
The announcement came after Mariupol's mayor Vadim Boychenko said Saturday that the city was under "blockade" and asked for humanitarian corridors. Pro-Russian separatist forces and the Russian military had said the town was surrounded.
Mariupol, a city of about 450,000 people on the Azov Sea, is a strategic port city allowing important maritime access and its capture could see Moscow's troops coming from annexed Crimean peninsula connect with the forces of separatist-controlled Donbas.
Volnovakha is a town of around 20,000 people situated near Ukraine's former frontline with Russian-backed separatists and around 60 kilometres (38 miles) from separatist-controlled Donetsk, a regional centre.
