Russia announced on Wednesday a ceasefire at the Azovstal steelworks in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol to allow, as of Thursday, the opening for three days of a humanitarian corridor through which to evacuate civilians.
“The Russian Armed Forces will open on May 5, 6 and 7 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Moscow time) a humanitarian corridor from the territory of the Azovstal metallurgical plant to evacuate civilians” the Russian defense ministry said.
“During this period, the Russian Armed Forces and the formations of the Donetsk People’s Republic will decree a unilateral cessation of hostilities,” the ministry continued in a statement.
Civilians at the plant will be allowed to travel to Russia or areas controlled by the kyiv (government),” he added.
Ukraine accused Russia of launching a “powerful” attack on the giant Azovstal steel mill, where the last defenders of Mariupol along with dozens of civilians.
The UN and the Red Cross participated earlier in the week in the evacuation of a hundred civilians.
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