Ukraine decries ‘immoral’ stunt after Moscow says it will let civilians flee – to Russia

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LVIV/KYIV, Ukraine (Reuters) – Russia introduced new “humanitarian corridors” on Monday to transport Ukrainians trapped below its bombardment – to Russia itself and its ally Belarus, a transfer instantly dismissed by Kyiv as an immoral stunt.

The announcement got here after two days of failed ceasefires to let civilians escape the besieged metropolis of Mariupol, the place lots of of 1000’s of persons are trapped with out meals and water, below relentless bombardment and unable to evacuate their wounded.

The new “corridors” can be opened at 10 a.m. Moscow time (0700 GMT) from the capital Kyiv and the jap cities of Kharkiv and Sumy, in addition to Mariupol, Russia’s defence ministry mentioned.

According to maps printed by the RIA information company, the hall from Kyiv would lead to Belarus, whereas civilians from Kharkiv can be permitted to go solely to Russia. Russia would additionally mount an airlift to take Ukrainians from Kyiv to Russia, the ministry mentioned.

“Attempts by the Ukrainian facet to deceive Russia and the entire civilised world … are ineffective this time,” the ministry mentioned.

A spokesperson for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy referred to as the transfer “utterly immoral” and mentioned Russia was attempting to “use folks’s struggling to create a tv image”.

“They are residents of Ukraine, they need to have the precise to evacuate to the territory of Ukraine,” the spokesperson advised Reuters.

“This is likely one of the issues that’s inflicting the humanitarian corridors to break down. They appear to agree to them, however they themselves need to provide humanitarian assist for an image on TV, and need the corridors to lead of their path.”

Russia’s invasion has been condemned world wide, despatched greater than 1.5 million Ukrainians fleeing overseas, and triggered sweeping sanctions which have remoted Russia in a approach by no means earlier than skilled by such a big economic system.

Russia denies intentionally focusing on civilians. It calls the marketing campaign it launched on Feb. 24 a “particular navy operation” to disarm Ukraine and arrest leaders it calls neo-Nazis. Ukraine and its Western allies say this a clear pretext for an invasion to conquer a nation of 44 million folks.

Oil costs soared to their highest ranges since 2008 in Asian commerce after the Biden administration mentioned it was exploring banning imports of Russian oil. Russia gives 7% of world provide and Russian oil accounts for about 8% of U.S. crude imports.

Japan, which counts Russia as its fifth-greatest provider of crude oil, can also be in dialogue with the United States and European international locations about presumably banning Russian oil imports, Kyodo News reported on Monday.

Europe depends on Russia for crude oil and pure gasoline however has turn out to be extra open to the thought of banning Russian merchandise, a supply conversant in the discussions advised Reuters.

The common workers of Ukraine’s armed forces mentioned Russian forces have been “starting to accumulate sources for the storming of Kyiv”, a metropolis of greater than 3 million, after days of sluggish progress of their important advance south from Belarus.

While Russia’s advance within the north on Kyiv has been stalled for days with an armoured column stretching for miles alongside a freeway, it has had extra success within the south, pushing east and west alongside the Black and Azov Sea coasts.

About 200,000 folks remained trapped in Mariupol, most sleeping underground to escape greater than six days of shelling by Russian forces that has minimize off meals, water, energy and heating, in accordance to the Ukrainian authorities.

About half of the folks within the metropolis have been due to be evacuated on Sunday, however that effort was aborted for a second day when a ceasefire plan collapsed as the edges accused one another of failing to cease taking pictures and shelling.

Ukrainian authorities mentioned on Monday the southern metropolis of Mykolayiv was being shelled. Zelenskiy has warned that Russia’s subsequent massive goal could possibly be Odessa, an historic Black Sea port of 1 million folks.

‘NO PEACEFUL PLACE ON THIS EARTH’

The official U.N. civilian loss of life toll from hostilities throughout Ukraine is 364, together with greater than 20 kids, although officers acknowledge this in all probability represents a fraction of the true toll.

Russia has acknowledged practically 500 deaths amongst its troopers. Ukraine says the true toll many 1000’s. Death tolls can’t be verified, however footage extensively filmed throughout Ukraine exhibits bombed out wreckage of Russian armoured columns and Ukrainian cities diminished to rubble by Russian strikes.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned the United States had seen credible studies of deliberate assaults on civilians and was documenting them to help a possible battle crimes investigation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned Russians who dedicated atrocities towards civilians they’d face punishment.

“For you there will be no peaceable place on this earth, aside from the grave,” he mentioned in a televised night deal with.

As anti-battle protests happened world wide, Ukraine renewed its enchantment to the West to toughen sanctions and in addition requested extra weapons, together with Russian-made planes.

Blinken mentioned the United States was contemplating how it might backfill plane for Poland if it determined to provide its warplanes to Ukraine.

(Reporting by Reuters bureaus; Writing by Humeyra Pamuk, Stephen Coates, Peter Graff; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Robert Birsel, Raju Gopalakrishnan and Tomasz Janowski)



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