Putin’s Forces Break Mariupol Ceasefire Within Hours
Ceasefire Crumbles Before Noon
The Russian military promised a ceasefire in Mariupol and Volnovakha from 7am to 2pm UK time on Saturday. But by midday, the fragile truce was already in tatters. President Zelenskyy’s office confirmed evacuations had stopped, blaming relentless Russian shelling.
“The Russian side is not holding to the ceasefire and has continued firing on Mariupol itself and on its surrounding area,” said Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of Zelenskyy’s office. Talks are still underway to secure a truce and a safe corridor for civilians.
Evacuations Stalled Despite Ready Buses
Mariupol’s deputy mayor, Sergei Orlov, revealed there were 50 buses lined up to evacuate 6,000 residents towards Zaporizhzhia—220km northwest. But with constant shelling, these desperate plans were put on hold.
Oleksiy Danilov, head of Ukraine’s security council, pressed Russia to open humanitarian corridors for children, the elderly, and vulnerable groups, calling it “question number 1” in peace talks.
Kremlin Fires Back at Western Sanctions
Meanwhile, Moscow accused the West of “economic banditry” after fresh sanctions targeted Russian elites close to Putin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned a response was coming but stayed vague on details.
“Russia is far too big to be isolated,” Peskov declared, adding the world is “much larger than just the US and Europe.” The escalating sanctions war shows no sign of abating.
