“Humanitarian corridors” from Mariupol and Volnovakha are created, Russians promised not to shoot

Russian media claim that the Russian army will cease fire at 09:00 Kyiv time and open humanitarian corridors for civilians to leave Mariupol and Volnovakha. Ukraine has not yet received a confirmation.

Source: TASS on Twitter, Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko

According to TASS: "The Russian side declares there will be a ceasefire from 10:00 Moscow time and humanitarian corridors will be opened for civilians to leave Mariupol and Volnovakha, the Russian Defence Ministry said."

According to Boychenko: "The timing of the opening of the humanitarian "green corridor" and the beginning of the ceasefire for Mariupol is being determined. This will allow us to begin restoring the city’s critical infrastructures: electricity, water, and mobile phone service. We will also have a chance to ensure the arrival of food and medical supplies."

Details: Mykhaylo Podolyak, adviser to the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, confirmed to Suspilne that humanitarian corridors for civilians will be opened from Mariupol and Volnovakha.

Why this matters: Mariupol and Volnovakha have become the hottest spots in the Donetsk region. Their infrastructure has been destroyed, people have been effectively subjected to genocide. Berdyansk and Kherson, also captured by the Russian troops, are now also on the verge of a humanitarian crisis.

Russia has repeatedly broken its promises. In particular, in August 2014, there was the Ilovaysk tragedy. When the Ilovaysk group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was encircled but their safe exit was agreed between the Russian and Ukrainian sides, the hybrid Russian occupation forces opened fire and shot at the Ukrainian military columns as they began moving.