New Delhi: Amid offensive against Ukraine, Russia on Saturday declared a ceasefire in two areas to open humanitarian corridors for civilians.


The ministry informed that the humanitarian corridors and exit routes have been agreed upon with the Ukrainian side, Russian state media outlet Sputnik reported.



RUSSIA INVADES UKRAINE: FULL COVERAGE

 

"Today, on 5 March at 10 a.m. Moscow time, the Russian side declares a ceasefire and opens humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha", the Russian Defence Ministry told reporters on Saturday, as quoted by Sputnik.

 

The Kyiv Independent reported that the temporary ceasefire began in Mariupol and Volnovakha to set up humanitarian corridors. The corridors will serve to evacuate civilians and deliver food and medicine to the cities that have been cut off from the world, it stated.


Earlier, Russia informed the UN Security Council that Russian buses are ready at crossing points to go to the eastern Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Sumy to evacuate Indian students and other foreign nationals who are stranded there, news agency PTI reported.


The 15-nation Council held an emergency session on Friday, called by Albania, France, Ireland, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States, following Russia's attack on Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, the biggest in Europe.

During the meeting, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said that the Russian military is doing everything to ensure the peaceful evacuation of foreign nationals stranded in Ukraine.

He alleged that Ukraine nationalists were keeping over 3,700 Indian citizens by force in Kharkiv and Sumy cities of eastern Ukraine.


On the other hand, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, had said that India has not received any reports of any hostage situation regarding Indian students.


He was responding to reports of Indian students being held hostage in Ukraine.


Meanwhile, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 1.2 million refugees have left Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on February 24. 


Of the 1,209,976 refugees who have fled, more than half crossed into Poland. Others went to other neighboring countries such as Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova, and Romania.


(With Agency Inputs)