Russia Blocks Opening of Humanitarian Corridors in Ukraine

Contrary to the agreements reached, the Russian Federation once again disrupted the opening of humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians from the encircled towns in the Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Kherson regions.

“The Russian Armed Forces continue to launch missile and bomb strikes on Kyiv, Mariupol, Volnovakha, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and other populated localities, thus preventing the safe departure of humanitarian convoys with Ukrainian and foreign citizens, as well as the delivery of medicines and food,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reports.

Russia must stop violating agreements, stop spreading disinformation, and stop manipulating the lives of civilians. Evacuation through humanitarian corridors is possible only with full compliance with the ceasefire, to which the Ukrainian side is ready.

“We also consider unacceptable Moscow’s attempts to force civilians from the besieged towns to leave for Russia and Belarus, given the high likelihood of provocations, including the taking of evacuees hostage or their use by the Russian army as human shields,” the statement reads.

Ukraine calls on states, including leaders who stay in touch with president Putin, to make every effort to force Russia to establish a ceasefire to open humanitarian corridors and prevent a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine continues to be in constant contact with the embassies of foreign countries whose citizens are in the area of hostilities and provides them with the utmost assistance for the evacuation of their citizens through Ukrainian territory.

Natalia Tolub