Civilians trapped in the besieged city of Sumy since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began 12 days ago are beginning to depart to other parts of Ukraine, the country’s deputy prime minister said on Tuesday.
A ceasefire agreement was reached between Ukraine and Russia to establish “humanitarian corridors” on Tuesday to other parts of Ukraine from the northeastern city of Sumy and the southern city of Mariupol.
“It has been agreed that the first convoy will start at 10 a.m. from the city of Sumy. The convoy will be followed by the local population in personal vehicles,” Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on Ukrainian television.
Video on social media reportedly showed civilians departing on buses in Sumy, located near the northeastern border of Russia and Ukraine, and heading south toward the city of Poltava, roughly 100 miles away.
UKRAINE DENOUNCES RUSSIAN-OPERATED ‘HUMANITARIAN CORRIDORS’ AMID REPORTS THEY VIOLATE CEASEFIRE
Green corridor from Sumy to Poltava. Keep an eye. More attention, less chances it will be shelled. pic.twitter.com/6zSyj5cdD5
— Nataliya Gumenyuk (@ngumenyuk) March 8, 2022
In the hours before the humanitarian corridors were established, a Russian airstrike reportedly leveled a residential neighborhood in Sumy. The Kyiv Independent news organization reported that 21 civilians, including two children, were killed in the attack early Tuesday morning.
Residential neighborhood in Sumy, #Ukraine, after the Russian air strike. Reportedly, 9 civilians were killed, including 2 children. pic.twitter.com/9ht4NLAdQ7
— Ostap Yarysh (@OstapYarysh) March 8, 2022
Unlike a previous attempt by Russia to establish and control humanitarian corridors, Tuesday’s agreement allows civilians safe passage to other regions of Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials on Monday decried a Russian attempt to establish humanitarian corridors in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol, and Sumy that would have led residents only to Russia and Belarus.
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“They are citizens of Ukraine. They should have the right to evacuate to the territory of Ukraine,” a spokesperson for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday.
