Russian ‘ceasefire’ was probably cover for Moscow resetting its forces for renewed offensive, UK says
Russia's proposed ceasefire in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol was probably an attempt to give itself a chance to reset its forces for a renewed offensive, the UK government has said.
In an intelligence update, the Ministry of Defence said it was also likely designed to "deflect international condemnation".
Ukraine has said Russian forces continued to shell evacuation corridors that should have been opened this morning – but Russia blamed Ukrainian "nationalists" for preventing civilians from leaving.
"By accusing Ukraine of breaking the agreement, Russia is likely seeking to shift responsibility for current and future civilian casualties in the city," the MoD said.
Russia had earlier offered to open the humanitarian corridors near Mariupol and the town of Volnovakha to enable the evacuation of civilians.
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However, Mariupol council ordered people to return to their shelters, saying Russia had failed to observe the agreed ceasefire in the city and as a result it would not be safe for children, women and the elderly to travel.
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The mayor of Mariupol, Vadym Boychenko, said talks were ongoing, adding: "Unfortunately, at the moment when we were ready the regular Russian Federation army started shelling the corridor we were supposed to move along.
"Therefore, there is no silence regime today at this particular moment… We are waiting for that silence regime to provide a safe pass, safe evacuation of inhabitants of Mariupol."
But, rejecting this, Russia's defence ministry said no one had made use of the corridors and that Ukrainian "nationalists" had prevented civilians from leaving, according to the state-run RIA news agency.
In later comments, Mr Boychenko said "relentless shelling of residential blocks is ongoing, airplanes have been dropping bombs on residential areas", adding: "The city is in a very, very difficult state of siege."
He said thousands of children, women and the elderly had come under fire as they arrived for a possible evacuation through humanitarian corridors.
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Helicopter shot down in Ukraine
Key developments:
• Russia continues its onslaught on Ukraine for the tenth day
• Western sanctions 'equivalent to declaring war', Putin claims
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticises NATO for refusing to impose a no-fly zone
• Britons in Russia told to consider leaving if presence 'not essential'
• The UN says the number of refugees fleeing the fighting could rise to 1.5 million this weekend
The stalled evacuation plan, comes after Moscow said it had agreed to create safe "green" routes with Ukraine to allow civilians to leave the encircled communities of Mariupol, in the southeast of the country, and the eastern town of Volnovakha on Saturday.
Ukraine said it planned to evacuate 200,000 people from Mariupol and 15,000 from Volnovakha, with the Red Cross acting as the guarantor of the ceasefire.
Buses were planned to be used, while those travelling by car had been urged to take as many people as they could.
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Medecins Sans Frontieres director of operations Christine Jamet said it had a number of staff members sheltering in Mariupol with their families and said people are now effectively "trapped" and forced to collect "snow and rain" for water in the city.
Read more:
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The mayor had also previously said there was no heat or electricity and food was running out.
As the offensive by the Kremlin continues, aid agencies have warned of an unfolding humanitarian disaster as food, water and medical supplies run short and refugees pour into western Ukraine and neighbouring European countries.
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