Planned evacuations of civilians from two Ukrainian cities have been halted, as Ukraine accused Russia of breaching a partial ceasefire to allow humanitarian corridors hours after announcing it on Saturday.
Russia’s defence ministry had earlier approved the ceasefire to allow civilians to leave Mariupol and Volnovakha, according to Russian state media. Both cities have suffered heavy casualties during the deadly invasion that has now entered its 10th day.
“The Russian side is not holding to the ceasefire and has continued firing on Mariupol itself and on its surrounding area,” said Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office.
“Talks with the Russian Federation are ongoing regarding setting up a ceasefire and ensuring a safe humanitarian corridor.”
Russia breached the deal in Volnovakha as well, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk told reporters. “We appeal to the Russian side to stop firing,” she said.
Meanwhile, Russian outlet RIA Novosti carried a Russian defense ministry claim that the firing came from inside both cities against Russian positions.
The ceasefire was set to take effect at 9 a.m. Kyiv time, the ministry was quoted as saying.
Earlier, Mykhailo Podoliak, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, confirmed the two cities were preparing for evacuations shortly after the ministry’s announcement.
The defence ministry’s vaguely worded statement did not say how long the corridors would remain open. But Mariupol officials later said evacuations would be allowed for five hours, starting two hours after the ceasefire took effect.
A post on the city government’s Telegram page said further evacuations will be allowed by private transport for the days immediately following Saturday’s ceasefire.
“In conditions when our hometown is constantly under ruthless fire from the occupiers, there is no other solution than to enable residents, that is, you and me, to leave Mariupol safely,” Mayor Vadim Boychenko said.
There was no immediate confirmation that firing had stopped in the specific areas mentioned and it was not clear if the ceasefire would be extended to other areas.
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Ukraine’s defence ministry on Friday evening quoted a statement from Podoliak who said a “working group” had been set up with representatives of Ukraine and Russia to evacuate people from affected areas.
The International Red Cross was acting as a mediator between the two sides, according to Podoliak.
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Mariupol, a strategic port city in southeastern Ukraine, and the eastern town of Volnovakha have both been surrounded by Russian troops and have suffered heavy shelling, killing dozens of citizens, Ukrainian officials say.
In Mariupol, Boychenko said there is no water, heat or electricity and food is running out.
“We are simply being destroyed,” the mayor said in a statement Friday.
The head of Ukraine’s security council, Oleksiy Danilov, had called on Russia to create humanitarian corridors to allow children, women and the elderly to escape the fighting, calling such corridors “question No. 1.”
The corridors were discussed during the second round of ceasefire talks held on Thursday between Ukraine and Russia. The Ukrainian side had made the issue a key demand heading into the negotiations.
In addition to civilian evacuations, the corridors will also allow food and medicine to be delivered to the wounded, as well as military troops, medical workers and government officials who remain behind.
Russian media, quoting the defence ministry, said its forces are continuing a “broad offensive” across Ukraine despite the partial ceasefires.
The country’s largest cities, Kyiv and Kharkiv, remain under heavy bombardment, with the capital under particular threat as Russian forces seek to depose the democratic government.
The United Nations has said over 1 million refugees have fled Ukraine for neighbouring countries, creating one of the largest refugee crises in Europe since the Second World War.
In a bitter and emotional speech late Friday, Zelenskyy criticized NATO over the lack of a no-fly zone, saying it will fully untie Russia’s hands as it escalates its air attack.
“The alliance has given the green light to the bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages,” he said, warning that “the history of Europe will remember this forever.”
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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg earlier in the day ruled out the possibility of a no-fly zone, saying NATO planes would have to shoot down Russian aircraft.
In a separate video message to antiwar protesters in several European cities, Zelenskyy continued to appeal for help. “If we fall, you will fall,” he said.
The U.N. Security Council scheduled an open meeting for Monday on the worsening humanitarian situation. The United Nations estimates that 12 million people in Ukraine and 4 million fleeing to neighboring countries in the coming months will need humanitarian aid.
More than 840 children have been wounded in the war, and 28 have been killed, according to Ukraine’s government. A total of 331 civilians had been confirmed killed, but the true number is probably much higher, the U.N. human rights office said.
–With files from the Associated Press and Reuters
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