War in Ukraine: what to remember from the tenth day of the Russian offensive

Europe 1 with AFP 09:01, March 05, 2022, modified at 09:05, March 05, 2022

THE ESSENTIAL

On the tenth day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia this time attacked the strategic port of Mariupol in eastern Ukraine.

Putin's country then announced a ceasefire to allow the evacuation of civilians from two cities, including surrounded Mariupol, after consultations between representatives of Kiev and Moscow.

The main information to remember

- The strategic port of Mariupol, in eastern Ukraine, is subject to a "blockade" by the Russian army

- Russia announced a ceasefire on Saturday to allow the evacuation of civilians from two towns in eastern Ukraine, including Mariupol

- The Russians occupy the nuclear site of Zaporizhya, the largest atomic power plant in Europe

- The UN Security Council will meet again urgently on Monday 

"Blockade" of the strategic port of Mariupol

The strategic port of Mariupol, in eastern Ukraine, is subject to a "blockade" by the Russian army and "ruthless" attacks, the mayor said on Saturday, calling for the establishment of a corridor humanitarian.

"For now we are looking for solutions to humanitarian problems and all possible ways to get Mariupol out of the blockade," said Vadim Boïtchenko, in a message posted on the Telegram account of the town hall of this city of some 450,000 inhabitants, located in shore of the Sea of ​​Azov.

Control of Mariupol is strategic for Russia, because it would allow it to ensure territorial continuity between its forces from Crimea and those from the pro-Russian separatist territories of Donbass. 

Moscow announces a ceasefire for the evacuation of civilians from Mariupol

Russia announced a ceasefire on Saturday to allow the evacuation of civilians from two cities in eastern Ukraine, including the encircled strategic port of Mariupol, after consultations between representatives of Kiev and Moscow.

From 07:00 GMT, "the Russian side declares a regime of silence (of arms) and the opening of humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha", said the Russian Ministry of Defense, quoted by the Russian news agencies.

The ministry said the location of the humanitarian corridors and exit points had been determined in agreement with the Ukrainian authorities, according to the agencies.

Russian army occupies Ukrainian nuclear power plant 

The Russian army has occupied the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine since Friday, where artillery strikes, according to the Ukrainians, caused a fire - which Moscow denies being the cause.

This attack against the largest nuclear power plant in Europe constitutes "an immense threat for all of Europe and the world", reacted Friday to the UN Security Council the American ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

"We survived a night that could have ended history. History of Ukraine. History of Europe": an explosion at the Zaporozhye power plant in southern Ukraine , would have been the equivalent of "six Chernobyls", alarmed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is to address the US Senate on Saturday by videoconference.

UN Security Council meeting

The UN Security Council will meet again urgently on Monday at 3:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. GMT) at the request of the United States and Albania.

Following this public session, consultations behind closed doors between the 15 members of the Security Council will follow in stride, this time at the request of Mexico and France, a diplomat told AFP under the guise of anonymity.