Ukraine invasion: Russia breaks ceasefire, evacuation delayed from Mariupol

‘The Russian side has continued shelling ...and for security reasons, the evacuation of the civilian population has been postponed,’ city officials said
Humanitarian corridors were supposed to be set up to allow civilians to leave Mariupol and Volnovakha after Russian forces agreed a ceasefire earlier on Saturday

Ukraine

Agence France-Presse

Published: 3:52pm, 5 Mar 2022

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Officials in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, which is surrounded by Russian forces, said they were delaying an evacuation of the civilian population, accusing Moscow’s troops of breaking a ceasefire.

“Due to the fact that the Russian side does not adhere to the ceasefire and has continued shelling both of Mariupol itself and its environs and for security reasons, the evacuation of the civilian population has been postponed,” city officials said in a statement on social media.

Mariupol, a southern city of about 450,000 people on the Azov Sea, was scheduled to begin the evacuations at midday Moscow time (09.00 GMT), after Russian forces agreed a ceasefire to allow civilians to leave the fighting.

“We ask all Mariupol residents to disperse and head to places where they can shelter. More information about the evacuation will be posted soon,” municipal officials wrote.

“At the moment, negotiations are underway with Russia to establish a ceasefire and ensure a safe humanitarian corridor,” the statement added.

A Ukrainian child holds her toys as she stands with her family’s belongings awaiting evacuation. Photo: AFP

Earlier on Saturday, Russia’s defence ministry announced the ceasefire to allow residents of two Ukrainian cities that were surrounded by Moscow’s forces, including the strategic port city of Mariupol, to evacuate.

“Today, March 5, from 10am Moscow time (07.00 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.

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Ukraine confirmed the deal on the corridors, including a ceasefire to let people exit, said Davyd Arakhamiya, a senior member of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s party and part of the negotiating team from Kyiv.

Russian forces have been operating in Ukraine since February 24.

The announcement came after Mariupol’s mayor Vadim Boychenko said on 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.

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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 60km from separatist-controlled Donetsk, a regional centre.