A second attempt at a civilian evacuation in Mariupol has collapsed with both sides accusing each other of failing to establish a secure corridor.
The Ukrainian military said pro-Russian forces had continued shelling the areas that were meant to be safe while their enemies say it was they who failed to observe the limited ceasefire.
It is reported only a few hundred people have managed to escape the besieged port city, while the city council had aimed to evacuate more than 200,000 people.
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Many residents have been sleeping in bomb shelters to escape days of near-constant bombardment by encircling Russian forces that has cut off food, water, power and heating supplies, according to the authorities.
The operation to allow them to leave, which follows a thwarted bid on Saturday, had been due to get under way at midday, with buses taking people along a safe "green" corridor through Portovskoye, Rozovka and Zaporozhye.
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A safe corridor was also to be created out of the city of Volnovakha.
A previous attempt to set up a humanitarian corridor out of Mariupol was abandoned on Saturday with Ukraine accusing Russia of continuing to shell the area and Moscow claiming Ukrainian "nationalists" were not allowing civilians to leave the city.
The UK's Ministry of Defence later said Russia's offer of a ceasefire was likely a ploy to distract attention away from it resetting its forces for a renewed attack.
Mariupol mayor Vadym Boychenko said thousands of residents had gathered for safe passage out of the city on Saturday when shelling began and the evacuation was stopped.
The 44-year-old said: "They've been working methodically to make sure the city is blockaded.
"They will not even give us an opportunity to count the wounded and the killed because the shelling does not stop."
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Having come to office in 2015 hoping to modernise the city, he said: "We were creating the conditions for people to have a comfortable life and dream for the future. And now they're taking this future from us.
"Right now I feel like they're tearing away my heart and soul."
Capturing Mariupol could allow Russia to establish a land corridor to Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.
Read more:
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2022-03-06 12:33:45Z
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