Russia claims cease-fire will allow evacuations from 4 cities
Russia declared a cease-fire starting Monday morning, opening humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians from Kyiv, Mariupol, Kharkiv and Sumy, the Russian interagency humanitarian response staff in Ukraine said.
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"Taking into account the disastrous humanitarian situation and its severe deterioration in the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Mariupol, and also at French President Emmanuel Macron's personal request to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian Armed Forces are declaring a ceasefire and opening humanitarian corridors for reasons of humanity starting 10:00 a.m. on March 7, 2022," the staff said.
Ukrainian officials in Mariupol said Russia broke planned cease-fires on Saturday and Sunday. Russia's announcement on Monday of humanitarian corridors was "unacceptable," a Ukrainian official said, saying all of Russia's planned routes led to Russia.