Evacuation of civilians from Mariupol begins - head of Donetsk regional military-civilian administration

KYIV. March 5 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the Donetsk regional military-civilian administration (subordinated to Kyiv), has announced the establishment of a ceasefire from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Kyiv Time (10:00 a.m. to 17:00 a.m. Moscow Time), with the evacuation of civilians from Mariupol starting at 11:00 a.m. Kyiv Time.

"Officially. A humanitarian corridor has been established along the following route: Mariupol - Mykilske - Rozivka - Polohy - Orikhiv - Zaporizhzhya," Kyrylenko wrote on his Telegram channel on Saturday morning.

People will be evacuated on municipal buses and can also leave on their private vehicles, Kyrylenko said. He urged drivers leaving the city to facilitate the evacuation of civilians. "Take as many people on board as possible," he said.

Departing from the humanitarian corridor's route is categorically forbidden, he said.

Kyrylenko said the evacuation process will be carried out at several stages and will take several days.

The Russian Defense Ministry said earlier, "Starting 10:00 a.m. Moscow Time today, March 5, the Russian side declares a ceasefire and opens humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha."