Russia, Ukraine to operate 10 humanitarian corridors on Monday

Amid Russia’s ongoing offensive in Ukraine, the two countries agreed to establish 10 humanitarian corridors in the eastern European nation, for March 14, for the evacuation of citizens stranded in the regions of Kyiv Oblast and Luhansk Oblast.

“We will, once again, try to unblock the movement of the humanitarian convoy carrying food and medicine to the port city of Mariupol from Berdiansk,” Ukrainian deputy PM Iryna Vereshchuk, who made the announcement in a video address, further said.

Meanwhile, according to The Kyiv Independent, of the 10 corridors, seven will come up in the Kyiv Oblast region, which surrounds the capital, Kyiv, while the remaining three will be established in Luhansk in the east.

The announcement came even as Russia launched a fresh offensive to capture Kyiv which, thus far, has stayed out of its grasp. According to experts, the offensive is likely to result in Russian troops finally capturing the city and establishing full control over Ukraine.

Russia began invasion of its neighbour on February 24 after days of heightened tensions. According to the United Nations, the ‘special military operation’—as Russian President Vladimir Putin describes it—has led to the fastest-growing displacement crisis since World War II.

As many as 1.85 million Ukrainians are estimated to have been displaced within the country itself, while another 2.85 million citizens are estimated to have crossed into the neighbouring countries.

Staff from UN agencies such as the UNHCR, Refugee Agency are present in key locations across Ukraine to respond to the rising humanitarian needs.