Russia announces ceasefire to allow evacuations of civilians

Russia declared a ceasefire in Ukraine's capital city Kyiv and three other cities - Mariupol, Kharkiv and Sumy - on Monday, the Interfax news agency cited Russia's defence ministry as saying.

The ceasefire will come into effect at 10 am Moscow time (12.30 pm IST).

The ceasefire has been announced to allow for civilian evacuations from the four Ukrainian cities.

The humanitarian corridors are being set up at the personal request of French President Emmanuel Macron, Russia's defence ministry said.

Efforts to evacuate civilians from the besieged city of Mariupol failed for a second time today due to repeated ceasefire violations.

On Saturday, Russia had declared a brief ceasefire in Mariupol and Volnovakha to allow civilians to exit. "Today, on March 5 at 10 am Moscow time, the Russian side declares a ceasefire and opens humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha," the Russian defence ministry said, as per Russian state-owned news agency Sputnik.

However, this quickly fell apart after Ukrainian officials said shelling had halted the work to remove civilians hours after Russia announced the deal.

On Sunday, Russia declared that humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians from the Ukrainian cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha would be reopened.

Later the same day, Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said evacuation from Mariupol was disrupted for the second time due to ongoing Russian attacks on the city.

A barrage of Russian missiles destroys Vinnytsia airport in central Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Three civilians, trying to flee Irpin, were killed by mortar fire, reports BBC.

"In Ukraine rivers of blood and tears are flowing. This is not only a military operation but a war which is leading to death, destruction and misery," said Pope Francis, rejecting the term "military operation" that Russia has used to describe its actions.