Russians fire towards area of green corridor in Mariupol – Defense Ministry

The Russian military continue to ignore the rules of international humanitarian law, opening fire instead of allowing for a green corridor.

"The insidious Russian occupiers continue to ignore the norms of international humanitarian law and the norms of morality and humanity! Instead of a green corridor – enemy fire. Unfortunately, today the residents of Mariupol were unable to leave the city as the Russian occupiers continue to shell the town, despite requests from the authorities to allow for the evacuation of civilians. Today, Muscovites were viciously firing towards the area of planned evacuation," the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine posted on Facebook.

Defenders and representatives of the National Police explained to the town residents the danger of leaving the town and informed them about the lack of guarantees from the occupier. They urged people to stay at home, preferably in shelters.

"For ten days now, Russian occupation forces have been shelling civilians, destroying infrastructure, and killing people. All defenders of the town continue to protect Mariupol from the enemy and promise to continue to fight! Russians, the Hague Tribunal is too soft for you! You must burn in hell for your crimes against the Ukrainian people," the Ministry added.

As reported, the evacuation of the civilian population of Mariupol and Volnovakha was postponed due to enemy shelling. Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister – Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk said that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to create a humanitarian corridor from 09:00 on March 5 in two directions: Volnovakha and Mariupol, routes were agreed under the terms of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

On February 24, Russian president Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine and launched a large-scale invasion. Russian troops are shelling and destroying infrastructure, conducting massive shelling of residential areas of Ukrainian cities and towns using artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, and ballistic missiles. Martial law was imposed in the country and general mobilization was announced. Ukraine filed a lawsuit against the Russian Federation at the UN International Court of Justice in The Hague.

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