Fresh efforts to evacuate Ukrainian civilians as new ceasefire agreed

Russia announced a new ceasefire in Ukraine on Wednesday to let civilians flee besieged cities while Ukrainian authorities said it would make a fresh attempt to evacuate stranded civilians through 6 “humanitarian corridors” amid reports of Russian forces breaching local ceasefire agreements for the third consecutive day.  

Talks of a fresh bid to rescue stranded citizens came after the death of at least 10 people in a Russian military attack in the eastern Ukrainian town of Severodonestk,Tuesday.   
The greatest humanitarian concern is Mariupol, a southern port surrounded by Russian troops for more than a week. Residents there have been sheltering underground from relentless bombardment, unable to evacuate their wounded, and with no access to food, water, power or heat. Local ceasefires to let them leave have failed since Saturday.  

Kyiv said 30 buses and 8 trucks of supplies failed to reach it on Tuesday after they came under Russian shelling in violation of the ceasefire. Moscow has blamed Kyiv for failing to halt fire.  

The governor of Sumy, an eastern city, said civilian cars were leaving for a second day through a safe corridor set up to Poltava further west.  More than 2 million people have fled Ukraine since President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion nearly two weeks ago. Moscow calls its action a “special military operation” to disarm its neighbuor and dislodge leaders it calls “neo-Nazis.”  LVIV, Ukraine, March 9 (Reuters/Hindustan Times)