Russia declares a cease-fire in Kiev, Mariupol, Kharkiv, and Sumy

            On Monday, the Russian armed forces announced a ceasefire beginning at 10:00 a.m. (07:00 GMT) for residents of Ukraine’s capital Kiev, Mariupol, Kharkiv, and Sumy to leave the cities, according to local media citing the interdepartmental coordination headquarters for humanitarian response in Ukraine.

“Given the catastrophic humanitarian situation and its sharp deterioration 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 a ceasefire for humanitarian purposes beginning at 10:00 a.m. on March 7, 2022, and open humanitarian corridors”, the response centre said in a statement.

During the truce, Russia would oversee the evacuation of citizens from Ukrainian cities using drones, according to a statement read out by the Sputnik News Agency.

“We warn that any attempts by the Ukrainian side to deceive Russia and the whole civilised world by interrupting the humanitarian operation, supposedly via Russia’s fault, are futile and pointless this time”, the headquarters warned.

This information, according to the headquarters, has been sent to the appropriate bodies of the UN, the OSCE, the ICRC, and other international organisations via all available information means, including the media.