The second attempt to evacuate the civilians of Mariupol, which is surrounded by Russian forces and their allies, "has been halted," the ICRC, which had opened the passage, announced at noon today. "Amid devastating scenes of human suffering in Mariupol, a second attempt today to begin the evacuation of some 200,000 people from the city was halted," the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a statement.
Authorities in Mariupol, which is besieged by Russian troops, said today that they wanted to evacuate civilians by 12:00 noon, the day after an unsuccessful attempt because of continued heavy shelling. On the 11th day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, this city of 450,000 people is under a "humanitarian blockade", according to its mayor Vadim Botchenko. The blockade is causing "thousands of casualties" and confirms that "Mariupol no longer exists."
Residents have no water, food, heating or electricity, according to Médecins Sans Frontières. The fall of Mariupol would be a turning point, allowing a crossover between troops from the annexed Crimea, who have already occupied the other main ports of Berdyansk and Kherson, and those from Donbass.
The Mariupol city council in Ukraine announced earlier that a new operation to evacuate civilians from the city will begin today at 12:00 (local and Greek time). For this purpose there will be a temporary ceasefire from 10:00 to 21:00, the same source added.
Kiev fortified in anticipation of the big offensive
Ukrainian soldiers stepped up defenses around Kiev today, digging trenches, closing roads and contacting civil defense units as Russian forces shelled surrounding areas and attacked nearby towns and villages. As armed forces and civilian volunteers dig trenches, thousands of people continue to try to flee the city of 3.4 million as fears of a full-scale assault spread.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 and has concentrated its heaviest attacks in the south and east of the country, besieging cities such as Mariupol and Kharkivwith artillery fire and airstrikes causing widespread damage and casualties. Kiev has been spared the worst fighting so far, but intense fighting is raging in surrounding towns and villages and the Russian Defence Ministry released video footage today of its military vehicles moving near the capital.
Video released by Ukraine's armed forces filmed on Saturday in the Kiev region, showed Ukraine's efforts to defend the capital, with piles of sandbags and concrete slabs on a main road as Ukrainian soldiers carefully checked passing cars. One road was blocked by metal anti-tank barriers called 'hedgehogs' and machine-gun emplacements were set up. Molotov cocktails were deployed on the roadside as civilians vowed to join the battle to protect Kiev. "We are 100% armed," one soldier said in the video. The positions are prepared, we have built them and we are just waiting to face them We will win."
Source: Proto Thema
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