"Temporary Suspension of Civilian Evacuation in Eastern Ukraine Combat Zone"

by Moon Chaeseok

Published 17 Apr.2022 19:05(KST)

Ukraine Deputy Prime Minister: "No Ceasefire Agreement with Russia for Humanitarian Corridor"

A woman is seen sobbing in front of her daughter's grave buried in the yard of her house on the northern outskirts of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, on the 14th (local time). The woman's daughter was a victim of a Russian airstrike. (Image source=EPA Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Major foreign media including AFP reported on the 17th (local time) that the evacuation of civilians in the eastern conflict zone of Ukraine has been temporarily suspended.

According to the reports, the Ukrainian government announced on the same day that it had not reached an agreement with Russia regarding the evacuation of civilians in the eastern region through a humanitarian corridor. Iryna Vereshchuk, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister, posted on social media (SNS), "We have not agreed on a ceasefire with Russia to establish an evacuation corridor," adding, "Therefore, unfortunately, we cannot open the humanitarian corridor today."

The Ukrainian authorities have been evacuating residents of the eastern Donbas (Donetsk and Luhansk provinces) region to the west in preparation for a large-scale offensive by Russian forces. After failing to capture the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Russian forces are concentrating their efforts in the east. The Ukrainian government also accused Russian forces of recently attacking evacuation facilities. On the 8th, more than 50 refugees waiting for a train at Kramatorsk train station lost their lives in a missile attack.

Deputy Prime Minister Vereshchuk stated that the authorities requested Russia to open a humanitarian corridor for civilians and wounded soldiers in the southern port city of Mariupol, which is surrounded by Russian forces. She said on SNS, "We once again demand the opening of a humanitarian corridor for civilians in Mariupol, especially women and children."

Mariupol is a strategic point connecting the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia forcibly annexed in 2014, and the Donbas region controlled by pro-Russian separatist rebels. It is reported to be on the brink of collapse due to concentrated attacks by Russian forces. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed on the 16th that it had driven Ukrainian forces out of the entire urban area of Mariupol.