LVIV, Ukraine(Washington Insider Magazine) – Despite Russia’s announcement of a ceasefire beginning Monday morning and the establishment of humanitarian passages in many regions, its military forces continued to shell Ukrainian cities, with several rocket launchers crashing into residential structures.
The short ceasefire decision comes a day after the Russian bombing of towns in Ukraine’s center, south, and north which drove hundreds and thousands of Ukrainian residents to seek refuge. Both parties have scheduled a third session of negotiations for Monday.
Russia’s attack resumed Monday morning, with Russian soldiers firing on the city of Mykolaiv, 480 kilometers south of Kyiv, according to Ukraine’s General Staff. Rescuers reported they were dealing with fire sparked by rocket strikes in residential areas.
According to ABC NEWS, shelling resumed in Kyiv suburbs, namely Irpin, which has been without power, heat, or water for 3 days.
According to the General Staff, the Russians have also targeted humanitarian routes, kidnapping children and women, and planting weaponry in city residential areas.
A Russian task force announced a ceasefire for residents fleeing Kyiv, the southern port city of Mariupol, Kharkiv, Ukraine’s 2nd-largest city, and Sumy would begin Monday morning, the 12th day of the battle. It was unclear when the truce would finish or if violence would stop outside the locations indicated in the task force’s statement.
The news comes after two failed attempts to evacuate residents from Mariupol, where 200,000 people were attempting to leave, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Ukraine and Russia have taken turns blaming each other for the failure. The ceasefire and opening of the corridors were announced on Monday at the insistence of French President Emmanuel Macron, who talked with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday.
Civilians will be able to flee to Belarus and Russia, according to evacuation routes released by Moscow’s RIA Novosti news outlet, citing the Defense Ministry. According to the task force, the Russian military would use drones to monitor the truce.
The previous evacuations were halted as Ukrainian officials reported that Russian bombardment had increased across the nation.
Only if Kyiv quits hostilities can Moscow’s assaults be halted, Putin warned. Putin blamed Ukraine for the conflict, telling Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday that Kyiv needs to end all conflicts and comply with Russia’s well-known demands.
Putin began his invasion by making a series of false claims against Kyiv, claiming that it is governed by neo-Nazis who want to destabilize Russia by developing nuclear weapons.
