Russia declares brief ceasefire to allow civilians to leave 2 cities in Ukraine

In order to allow civilians to evacuate the war zone, Russia declared a brief ceasefire in parts of Ukraine on Saturday. The ceasefire will be in place for five and a half hours from 12.30 pm IST onwards.

During this time, humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha will be open, the Russian defence ministry said. Food and medicines will also be delivered to the cities that have been cut off by Russian forces.

Creating humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians was agreed upon by Russian and Ukrainian officials during their second round of talks in Belarus aimed at resolving the crisis.

“Today, on March 5 at 10 am Moscow time, the Russian side declares a ceasefire and opens humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha,” the Russian defence ministry said, as per Russian state-owned news agency Sputnik.

Reuters