Russia declares a ceasefire from 10 AM Moscow time, in Mariupol and Volnovakha, Ukraine, for citizens to leave, as per RIA, the Russian state-owned news agency. 

The news comes after the second round of talks between Russian and Ukrainian diplomats, where no consensus was reached for an immediate ceasefire, but the two sides agreed on establishing humanitarian corridors for evacuating citizens in destroyed towns or villages, or areas under Russian shelling. 

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After the talks, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted, “There is a solution only for the organization of humanitarian corridors”, and hinted that evacuation and aid were likely to become easier as the conflict between the two nations rages on. 

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had expressed scepticism about Russia living up to its word on the safe evacuation of civilians, CNN reported. President Vladimir Putin’s decision of a ceasefire to allow civilians to leave comes at a time when the global community is mulling whether Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine. 

These considerations have gained traction recently due to its attacks on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest. However, Ukraine had long labelled actions by Russian troops as war crimes, since they were targeting civilians. 

Both Volnovakha and Mariupol has been under siege by Russian troops. The condition in the latter has been described to be critical as the city sustained shelling for over 26 hours. Reports emerged that Mariupol had also been cut off from basic amenities including water, electricity. While Ukrainian forces were determined to defend the port city against Russians, they admitted they were outmatched. 

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Notably, the city of Mariupol on the Azov Sea holds great strategic and symbolic significance to the Russian side. Should it fall, Russia could actualize its plan of territorial continuity, via a passageway running from the already annexed Crimea to the recent breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, which Putin recognized as independent.