Ukraine, Russia agreement on evacuating Mariupol residents collapses

Some 200,000 civilians were expected to start leaving Mariupol and 15,000 from Volnovakha in eastern Ukraine at 9 a.m. local time, in a deal overseen by the International Committee of the Red Cross. But, at 11:45, Russia resumed shelling Volnovakha with heavy weapons, while also continuing military operations on the route leading out of Mariupol, said Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk.

“We ask the Russian side to stop the shelling, return to the cease-fire and allow us to create humanitarian columns so that children, women and the elderly can leave,” she said. She also asked Russia to allow humanitarian aid such as food and critical medication like insulin to reach these cities.