Russia declares ceasefire for 4 humanitarian exit corridors

After two attempts to set up safe evacuation outlets failed in the past 48 hours, the Russian armed forces announced a ceasefire and open corridors early Monday from Kiev, Kharkiv, Sumy and Mariupol “given the catastrophic humanitarian situation and sharp aggression in those cities.” The announcement placed no time limit on the truce, which was said granted “at the personal request of French president Emmanuel Macron.”

Russia, which was accused of shelling the first corridors, says it will monitor and control the evacuation using drones in order to prevent Kiev “from sabotaging the process again.”