Russia Claims Ukrainian Nationalists Are Blocking Civilians From Fleeing To Humanitarian Corridor

JAKARTA - Russia accuses Ukrainian "nationalists" of blocking civilians from leaving the country. Humanitarian corridors or peaceful locations where residents can access evacuations out of town amid the vacant ceasefire this week.

The RIA news agency reported that the Russian Defense Ministry admitted that no one had used the humanitarian corridor near the cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha on Saturday 5 March.

The ministry also said Russian soldiers who allowed civilians to leave Ukraine were fired upon during the ceasefire.

However, the statement contrasted with statements from Ukrainian officials.

The Mariupol City Council in Ukraine earlier said Russia had not fully complied with the ceasefire agreed by the two warring parties.

Ukrainian authorities are currently investigating reports of Russian troops using the ceasefire to continue moving out of Mariupol.

Previously, according to Antara, Russia announced that its troops had surrounded Mariupol. The attack on the port city on the Sea of Azov will be stopped so civilians can access roads and move.

Mariupol mayor Vadym Boychenko on Friday called for military assistance as the city ran out of drinking water, electricity and fuel for heating, while food supplies were also running low.

Vadym also requested that a 'humanitarian corridor' be provided so that as many as 400,000 people can evacuate or leave the country. Mariupol has been bombarded by the Russian army for the past five days.

"We are literally being crushed," Vadym said in a televised broadcast.