People being evacuated from Mariupol via humanitarian corridors to Zaporizhzhya - Ukrainian Deputy PM Vereshchuk

KYIV. March 5 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk has announced the establishment of a humanitarian corridor from Volnovakha and Mariupol to evacuate local civilians.

"Via the International Committee of the Red Cross's (ICRC) mediation, we agreed upon the routes, the movement of a column, and a plan for the delivery of humanitarian cargo, and we have obtained confirmation from the Russian side," Vereshchuk said at a press briefing on Saturday.

Ukraine plans to evacuate over 200,000 people along the Mariupol - Mykilske - Rozivka - Bilmak - Polohe - Orikhiv - Zaporizhzhya route and over 15,000 people along the Volnovakha - Valeryanivka - Novoandriyivka - Kyrylivka - Vuhledar - Pokrovsk - Zaporizhzhya route, Vereshchuk said.

The ICRC is acting as a guarantor of the ceasefire during the evacuation, Vereshchuk said.

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."