Russia has said it has offered a ceasefire in the embattled Ukrainian city of Mariupol for the evacuation of civilians tomorrow. “Russia’s armed forces will declare a cease-fire on March 31 from 10:00 a.m. (9:00 a.m. CEST) for humanitarian purposes only,” Major General Mikhail Mizintsev said tonight, according to the Interfax agency.
The temporary ceasefire was intended to enable civilians to flee the embattled port city on the Azov Sea first to Berdyansk to the west and then on to Zaporizhia.
The Ukrainian side has until 6:00 a.m. (5:00 a.m. CEST) to declare a ceasefire and to inform Russia, the United Nations and the International Red Cross in writing. Ukraine and Russia have repeatedly accused each other of sabotaging the escape of residents from Mariupol.
