Russia’s Ministry of Defence on Saturday announced it would stop its bombardment of parts of Ukraine, to allow for civilians to safely evacuate, ABN TV reports.
“Today, March 5, from 10 a.m. Moscow time, the Russian side declares a ceasefire regime and opens humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha,” said the ministry in a statement.
“Humanitarian corridors and exit routes have been agreed with the Ukrainian side.”
The war between Russia and Ukraine is described as the biggest war after World War II. On 24 February 2022, Russia launched an attack on Ukraine in the southwest.
On Friday, G7 foreign ministers said they were “deeply concerned” with the “catastrophic humanitarian toll” of Russia’s strikes on Ukraine’s cities.
They stressed that “indiscriminate attacks are prohibited by international humanitarian law.”
“We will hold accountable those responsible for war crimes, including indiscriminate use of weapons against civilians,” the ministers said in a statement after a meeting in Brussels.
They welcomed the investigations and evidence-gathering by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC).