Russia Announces Temporary Ceasefire In Ukrainian Cities

Russia will 'stop firing' in two cities to allow citizens to evacuate through humanitarian corridors.

After both countries reportedly reached a 'joint understanding' at a second round of peace talks held two days ago in Belarus, Russia has called a temporary ceasefire to allow for the safe passage of those fleeing Ukraine.

Ukraine's cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha will subsequently see humanitarian corridors opened up at 10.00am today Moscow time (7.00am GMT), according to the Kremlin's defence ministry.

Russian state media has also reported a confirmed ceasefire, labelled as a 'regime of quietness,' in order to aid the evacuation.

After the second round of talks, Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak explained the two countries agreed on 'jointly securing humanitarian corridors to evacuate peaceful civilians, and also on supplying medicine and food to the places of the most fierce fighting'.

However, until today, it was uncertain whether a temporary ceasefire would actually be enforced.

After another day of 'ruthless attacks' by Russian forces, Mariupol's mayor Vadym Boychenko stressed the need for a humanitarian corridor last night, Sky News reports.

In the last few days, the city - which has a total of 450,000 residents - has reportedly been left without water or electricity, after civilian buildings became the target of Russian troops.

The ceasefire is stated as lasting from 9.00am to 04.00pm local time, according to Mariupol city council, as per Metro.

The corridor goes from Mariupol to Ukraine's western city of Zaporizhzhia. However, Zaporizhzhia has also been the site of intense fighting after Russian forces seized control of its plant yesterday morning, March 4.

Citizens will be able to leave via private transport or buses which are departing from three locations across the city.

After the ceasefire was confirmed, Boychenko stated: 'Mariupol is not streets and houses. It is its residents.

‘Under the conditions of constant, ruthless shelling from the occupiers, there is no other choice but to give residents…the opportunity to safely leave Mariupol.’

Over a week after the invasion first began on February 24, over a million Ukrainian refugees had fled the country.

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