Russian forces continued to shell the Ukrainian city of Mariupol on Saturday, despite agreeing to a ceasefire just hours earlier – throwing an attempted mass evacuation of civilians into chaos.
Three hours after the ceasefire was supposed to begin at 09:00am Ukrainian time, and Mariupol authorities announced they had postponed a planned mass evacuation because of the continued bombardment.
Mariupol officials said “We ask the people in Mariupol to head for the shelter, there will be more information on the evacuation asap. Due to the fact that the Russian side is not sticking to the ceasefire and continues to shoot Mariupol itself and the outskirts, the evacuation has been postponed.”
Russia has not commented on the shelling.
The deputy mayor of Mariupol, Serhiy Orlov said the ceasefire had completely collapsed amid Russian bombardment.
Thousands of civilians were earlier preparing to evacuate from Mariupol, and the smaller city of Volnovakha.
Up to 9,000 people were initially expected to attempt to escape Mariupol by bus and private vehicle today, with trains unable to run because infrastructure had been destroyed.
Local officials earlier said residents were in dire need of food, water and medicine because of Russia’s blockade.
Mariupol, a port city of about 400,000 people, is a key strategic target for Russia because seizing it would allow Russian-backed separatist forces in eastern Ukraine to join forces with troops in Crimea.
