Russian forces will stop firing at 1000 Moscow time to allow humanitarian corridors out of the Ukrainian cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha, Russia's defence ministry said, Interfax reported.
While laying siege to Mariupol for days, Russian forces also cut its electricity, food, water, heating and transportation in the depths of winter, prompting comparisons to the Nazi blockade of Leningrad in World War II.
"For now, we are looking for solutions to humanitarian problems and all possible ways to get Mariupol out of the blockade," said mayor Vadim Boychenko. He called for a ceasefire and a humanitarian corridor for food and medicine.
Since President Vladimir Putin's army invaded on February 24, Russia has pummelled Ukrainian cities, killed hundreds of civilians and assaulted Europe's largest atomic power plant.
