Explainer | Escaping Ukraine: what are humanitarian corridors?
- Russia opens humanitarian corridors for civilians to flee Ukrainian cities
- In Syria, corridors were created for opposition cities after heavy bombardment
02:35
Civilians in Ukraine caught in escalating attacks despite Russian promises of humanitarian corridors
As more Ukrainian towns and cities come under siege, concern is mounting for millions of civilians in the crossfire.
Russia on Tuesday said it opened humanitarian corridors for civilians to flee pummelled Ukrainian cities, though Ukrainian leaders were sceptical since prior efforts to establish evacuation routes crumbled amid renewed attacks.
Russia’s Defence Ministry listed routes from Kyiv and four other Ukrainian cities: Cherhihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Mariupol, the Interfax news agency reported.
The defence ministry added that Russian forces in Ukraine had introduced a “silent regime” from 0700 GMT (3pm Hong Kong time), Interfax reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of reneging on previous escape route agreements and planting explosives on roads.