LVIV, UKRAINE (AP) – Safe corridors intended to let Ukrainian civilians escape the Russian onslaught could open, Kremlin officials said, though Ukrainian leaders were sceptical since prior efforts to establish evacuation routes crumbled amid renewed attacks.
In one of the most desperate cities, the encircled southern port of Mariupol, an estimated 200,000 people – nearly half the population of 430,000 – were hoping to flee, and Red Cross officials waited to hear when a corridor would be established.
Russia’s coordination centre for humanitarian efforts in Ukraine said Russia will begin a cease-fire at 10am Moscow time (0700 GMT) to allow civilians to flee through special corridors agreed upon with Ukrainian authorities, according to Russian media. Most of those corridors would lead to Russia, either directly or through Belarus, though people in Kharkiv would be allowed to travel to western Ukraine, the centre said.
More details on Wednesday’s Borneo Bulletin
