Russia proposes ceasefire in 5 cities, Ukraine yet to officially agree

Russia has proposed a new ceasefire beginning at 10 am Moscow time, or 2 am ET Tuesday, indicating that it is ready to open evacuation corridors from Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Mariupol, according to Russian media citing the Russian Coordination Headquarters for Humanitarian Response in Ukraine.

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The cease-fire proposal has yet to be publicly accepted by Ukraine.

“Russia declares a ceasefire from 10 am (Moscow time) on March 8, and is ready to provide humanitarian corridors: from Kyiv and adjacent settlements to the Russian Federation through the territory of the Republic of Belarus to Gomel,” Russian media quoted the statement.  

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According to the Russian statement, evacuation corridors “will also be open from Chernihiv through the territory of Belarus, from the city of Sumy along two routes to Poltava and to the territory of Russia, from Kharkiv to the territory of Russia or to Lviv, Uzhgorod, Ivano-Frankivsk. Also, a humanitarian corridor will be opened from Mariupol along the two routes to the territory of Russia and Zaporizhie.”

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Russia has offered to reach an agreement with Ukraine on the evacuation corridor plan by 3 am ET Moscow time on Tuesday, ahead of the truce beginning at 10 am ET local time.

In Mariupol, a similar cease-fire was declared. However, after a brief respite, Ukrainian officials reported that Russian forces resumed artillery and airstrikes, preventing residents from fleeing. Putin has accused Ukraine of obstructing the mission.

According to UN Human Rights experts, little over 1,200 civilian casualties have been registered in Ukraine, with 406 people dead, however the exact number of deaths and injuries is impossible to determine, a UN spokesman said Monday.

According to Stephane Dujarric, UN spokesperson, there have been nine attacks on health care facilities, health care workers, and ambulances since February 24.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported 406 people dead earlier Monday, but recognised that the true count is likely “considerably higher.”