Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Russia declares cease-fire for evacuation of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha

Chernihiv, Ukraine, March 2022
Photo: Olexander Mayshev

Many towns in Ukraine are under heavy Russian fire. Once again, Kyiv is under missile attack. Pressure is worst in the Southern part of the country which is on the Black Sea.

Meanwhile, the Russian forces have declared a “regime of silence” as of 9 AM Bulgarian time, the Ministry of Defence has announced. Russia’s TASS news agency reports, that Russia is opening humanitarian corridors for the withdrawal of civilians from the towns of Mariupol and Volnovakha in Donetsk region.

The port city of Mariupol in the Southeast, which has been under siege since Thursday, is besieged and under fire. The city’s mayor Vadim Boychenko called for a humanitarian corridor. The city’s electricity, water, food and heating have been cut off, with food running out. Mariupol is of strategic importance because control of the city would create a land corridor between Crimea and the Russia-supported regions Luhansk and Donetsk.

Meanwhile, foreign media outlets, among them the BBC and CNN, stated they are stopping their reporting from Russia, after Vladimir Putin endorsed a draft law criminalizing, and introducing up to 15 years of imprisonment for spreading “false news” about Russia’s military operations. Russia banned the social network Facebook and blocked access to Twitter and YouTube. A number of Western companies, among them Microsoft, Samsung, Chanel have stopped sales in Russia.

Tens of thousands of people came out into the streets of Tbilisi and Prague in support of Ukraine, and President Zelensky made an address by video link. “All of you are Ukrainians today,” he said, addressing Europe. Anti-war protests took place in Frankfurt, Vilnius, Lyon, Bratislava, Lisbon, London, Seoul, Jakarta and many other towns and cities. Today. Volodymyr Zelensky is to address the US Senate by video link.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi stated that the number of Ukrainian refugees is close to 1.5 million, and is quickly growing.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Prevala mountain pass

Increased traffic on Bulgaria's roads before Christmas, rain and snow expected

Increased traffic is expected on the country's roads during the weekend . During peak hours, 1,500 cars per hour will pass on the highways. A special traffic organization has been introduced on the Hemus highway.  Traffic for heavy trucks through..

published on 12/21/24 10:14 AM

Mural unveiled in Bulgaria's Plovdiv dedicated to 20 years of Bulgaria's NATO membership

In the presence of diplomats, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivan Kondov unveiled in Plovdiv the latest mural from the ministry's competition "Bulgaria - More Beautiful in NATO". The event is dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the country's membership in..

published on 12/21/24 9:45 AM

Weather forecast: Yellow weather alert for rain and snow in 21 regions of the country

On Saturday, a cold front will sweep across the country. During the night there will be rain in Western and Central Bulgaria, and snow in the mountains and on higher ground. A snow cover will form. Minimum temperatures 1-6° C., for Sofia around 1°..

published on 12/20/24 6:35 PM