Following a Russian ceasefire announcement, Kiev said Thursday it was sending dozens of buses to evacuate residents from the besieged city of Mariupol, while the worldwide Red Cross said it was ready to lead the “desperately vital” operation.
Over a month into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin’s army have repeatedly shelled places like Mariupol, killing at least 5,000 people in the port city alone. They have, however, unable to gain control of any major region.
Western intelligence operatives claim Putin is being mislead by advisers “afraid to tell him the truth” about military casualties or the devastating effects of sanctions on the country’s economy, highlighting Russia’s underestimating of Ukraine’s tenacious defence.
Moscow indicated this week that it will reduce strikes on Kyiv and focus on the east, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the pledges as a false herring.
Russian soldiers continued to bomb Kyiv and the northern city of Chernigiv, where the governor of the area, Vicheslav Chaus, mocked Moscow’s assertion that conflict was deescalating.
“The adversary is losing ground. It is making its way through the Chernigiv area. Can we call that a troop withdrawal? I’m not certain. It is at the very least reorganising, but it is also plausible that it is withdrawing. We must not relax our watch “He sent a message on Telegram.
With thousands of Russian troops killed and many thousands more injured, military analysts say Moscow has no option but to abandon plans to push simultaneously along numerous axes in the north, east, and south.
Instead, it has shifted its attention to the east, taking several towns and cities in the Donbas region, notably Mariupol, while continuing to launch long-range assaults on other cities.
– ‘Desperately vital’ –
Villages like Lukianivka have suffered the brunt of Russia’s bombardment around Kyiv.
A path of wreckage gives witness to the brutality with which Ukrainian forces fought to retake the little village a week ago.
While surveying the ruins of a church in the village, Ukrainian army chaplain Nazarii Hahaliuk said that it is odd considering that Ukraine and Russia both practise the Orthodox Christian religion.
He stated that he “does not believe as a human or a priest” in Russia’s promise to reduce strikes on Kyiv.
“I experience agony, tragedy, and spiritual deterioration similar to that of a person who has been slain,” he stated.
In the south, where tens of thousands of people were besieged in heavily battered Mariupol with no food, water, or medication, Ukrainian officials attempted a new rescue attempt.
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 45 buses were going to the port city in a fresh evacuation operation, as Russia announced a cease-fire beginning at 10:00 a.m. (0700 GMT).
On Friday, the worldwide Red Cross said it was “ready to lead the safe passage operation” provided all parties agreed on the criteria, which included the route and length.
Previous attempts to agree on a safety passage to get people out have failed, but the ICRC said it was “critical” that the next attempt succeed.
According to Ukrainian Ombudswoman Lyudmyla Denisova, the ICRC’s own relief depot near the city was hit by Russian planes and artillery.
Russia’s soldiers have ringed Mariupol, a vital city for the Kremlin that wants to conquer it to establish an uninterrupted link between the de facto Russian-controlled separatist areas of Donetsk and Lugansk.
