Russian forces have broken the third ceasefire by attacking families trying to escape war, the Ukrainian government has claimed.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko wrote on Twitter: ‘Ceasefire violated! Russian forces are now shelling the humanitarian corridor from Zaporizhzhia to Mariupol. ‘8 trucks + 30 buses ready to deliver humanitarian aid to Mariupol and to evac civilians to Zaporizhzhia. Pressure on Russia breaks ceasefire MUST step up to make it uphold its commitments.’
A child has died of dehydration in Mariupol in a tragic sign of how desperate people have become, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned today.
However, reports suggest some Ukrainians may have been able to flee safely on Tuesday.
The first evacuation column from Sumy is ‘moving as planned’, the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine said at 12.30 pm.
People have also been seen leaving Irpin, near Kyiv via an evacuation route. The Kremlin has yet to comment on the fresh claims.
It comes after attempts to evacuate civilians crumbled over the weekend amid alleged continued Russia breaks ceasefire bombing.
A steady rain of shells and rockets has been falling on cities including Mariupol, Kharkiv, and Irpin.
‘We can’t even gather up the bodies because the shelling from heavy weapons doesn’t stop day or night’, Mayor of Bucha, Anatol Fedoruk, said.
‘Dogs are pulling apart the bodies on the city streets. It’s a nightmare.’
Ukrainian defense minister Oleksiy Reznikov has said at least 400 civilian deaths have been recorded and 800 have been wounded – but added that the figures are ‘definitely incomplete’.
The fight for Mariupol is important as its capture could allow Moscow to establish a land corridor to Crimea, which Russia breaks ceasefire seized from Ukraine in 2014.
Who is Zelensky?
He is a former comedian. His leadership has garnered praise all over the world. He has shown immense love and patriotism. Towards his country, Ukraine.