A second attempt at a civilian evacuation will begin in Mariupol later under a temporary ceasefire, the city council has said.
The operation will begin at midday local time from three locations in the port city, with people being taken by bus along a safe “green” corridor through Portovskoye, Rozovka and Zaporozhye.
People will also be able to use private transport to travel in a column along the route, which will also be accompanied by the Red Cross.
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The council said: “We ask all drivers leaving the city to facilitate the evacuation of civilians as much as possible – take people with you, fill the transport as much as possible.”
Deviating from the route is strictly forbidden, the council added.
A safe corridor is also to be created out of the city of Volnovakha.
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A previous bid on Saturday to set up a humanitarian corridor out of Mariupol was abandoned with Ukraine accusing Russia of continuing to shell the area and Moscow claiming Ukrainian “nationalists” were not allowing civilians to leave the city.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence later said Russia’s offer of a ceasefire was likely a ploy to distract attention away from it resetting its forces for a renewed attack.
Mariupol mayor Vadym Boychenko said thousands of residents had gathered for safe passage out of the city on Saturday when shelling began and the evacuation was stopped. Later in the day, he said the attack had escalated further.
“The city is in a very, very difficult state of siege,” he told Ukrainian TV.
“Relentless shelling of residential blocks is ongoing, airplanes have been dropping bombs on residential areas.
“The Russian occupants are using heavy artillery, including Grad multiple rocket launchers.”
Capturing Mariupol could allow Russia to establish a land corridor to Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.
