Russia to continue broad offensive in Ukraine despite limited ceasefire

Russia says its forces vow to continue a broad offensive in the former Soviet state despite a limited ceasefire in two Ukrainian cities on the 10th day of a large-scale military operation.

Russia's RIA news agency cited the Russian defense ministry as saying on Saturday that its military units stopped firing and opened humanitarian corridors near the southern Ukrainian cities of Volnovakha and Mariupol, which had been encircled by Russian troops.

The news agency said citizens in Mariupol would be allowed to leave the port city during a five-hour window.

"Today, on March 5 at 10 a.m. (7:00 GMT) Moscow time, the Russian side declares a ceasefire and opens humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha," the Russian Defense Ministry was quoted as saying.

The ministry added that the humanitarian corridors and exit routes have been agreed upon with the Ukrainian side following reports of a catastrophic humanitarian situation in most of Ukraine as a result of the protracted conflict.

Ukrainian presidential aide Mikhail Podolyak, for his part, said that about 200,000 people are trying to evacuate from Mariupol, while "20,000 people also want to leave [the city of] Volnovakha [in the Donetsk region]."

There was no immediate confirmation that firing had stopped and it was not clear if the ceasefire would be extended to other areas, or how long it would last.

The Russian defense ministry, however, said a broad offensive would continue in Ukraine, with local media reports stressing that Russian forces had focused efforts on encircling the capital Kiev and Kharkiv, the second-biggest city, while aiming to establish a land bridge to the Crimean Peninsula.

The ceasefire declaration follows the Russian and Ukrainian sides earlier this week holding a second round of talks on ending the Ukraine crisis in a border area in Belarus, where the two specifically agreed on creating humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians.

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said late Friday that Moscow was waiting for a third round of talks with Ukraine in Belarus, and one of Kiev’s negotiators said it hoped to hold them this weekend.

"The third leg could take place tomorrow or the day after, we are in constant contact," Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said Friday.

SS