Moscow: Ukraine refuses to open humanitarian corridors to Russia
Although Ukraine has agreed to open humanitarian corridors, it has refused to open those directed to Russia.
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Ukrainian refugees cross the border in Vysne Nemecke, Slovakia (Getty)
The chief of the Russian National Defense Management Center, Mikhail Mizintsev, revealed on Monday that Kiev agreed to open humanitarian corridors, excluding those directed towards Russia and Belarus.
Earlier today, The Russian military forces declared a truce beginning at 10:00 a.m. (07:00 GMT).
The ceasefire would allow for inhabitants of Ukraine's Kiev, Mariupol, Kharkiv, and Sumy to evacuate the city, according to the interdepartmental coordination center for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine on Monday.
In a statement, the response center announced that "Given the catastrophic humanitarian situation and its sharp aggravation in the cities of Kiev, Kharkiv, Sumy and Mariupol, as well as at the personal request of French President Emmanuel Macron to Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, the Russian armed forces announce ceasefire for humanitarian purposes from 10;00 March 7, 2022, and open humanitarian corridors."
The statement added that during the ceasefire, Russia will oversee resident evacuation with the help of drones.
Mizintsev said "An official response from the Ukrainian side with consent to the opening of humanitarian corridors [scheduled for 10 a.m.] was received only today at 7:10 a.m., but at the same time, the Kiev regime deliberately did not indicate open humanitarian corridors in the direction of Russia from Kiev, Kharkiv, Mariupol and Sumy."
The chief added that so far, Ukraine has not fulfilled a single condition for humanitarian corridors.
In a phone call with Macron, Putin put the blame on Kiev for failed evacuation attempts from the 10th largest city in Ukraine, Mariupol, which is currently surrounded by Russian troops.
The Russian President drew attention to the fact that Kiev is not fulfilling its agreements regarding the critical humanitarian issue, notably after the signed two agreements to evacuate Mariupol fell amid reports that Ukraine has been breaching ceasefire agreements.
Ukrainian nationalists, according to Putin, prevented civilians and foreign citizens from leaving Mariupol and Volnovakha on Saturday despite the ceasefire agreements.
