The Mirage In Ukraine Is Called The Armistice

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JAKARTA - The Ukraine-Russia ceasefire agreement in Mariupol and Volnovakha should be a way to reduce high tension in the second conflict. But it's all a mess. There is no such thing as a ceasefire.

Previously, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a temporary ceasefire in the two cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha. Russia promises to stop shooting. The goal is to let the civilians in the city to leave immediately.

"Today, March 5, the Russian side declared the regime silent and opened humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha," the Russian defense ministry said.

Mortal truce

Quoted from the BBC, Saturday 5 March, the ceasefire agreed between Russia and Ukraine fell apart, just hours after it was announced.

In recent days, Mariupol and the small town of Volnovakha have continued to hear gunfire and explosions. So when the intention of a ceasefire was echoed, the public deserved to rejoice.

Civilians will be allowed to go along the agreed route between 09:00 - 16:00 local time (07:00 - 14:00 GMT). The truce must take effect at the same time.

However, shortly after it started, the Ukrainian side accused Russian troops of taking advantage of the ceasefire to advance their position. And what happened was fighting around the city of Orikhiv --on the exit from Mariupol--

Not long after, the Mariupol city council announced that the evacuation of the civilians had been postponed because their safety could no longer be guaranteed.

"The ongoing shelling makes it impossible to open humanitarian corridors for the safe evacuation of civilians, delivery of medicine [and] food," the Ukrainian foreign ministry wrote.

Russia's defense ministry later accused the truce of being violated when Ukrainian nationalists opened fire on its troops.

It is not clear who is wrong and who is right.