On Saturday, Russia declared a partial truce to allow humanitarian corridors out of Ukrainian cities devastated by the lethal assault, now in its tenth day.

According to Russian official media, the defense ministry has agreed on a truce that will allow residents to flee Mariupol and Volnovakha. According to the government, the ceasefire will take effect at 9 a.m. Kyiv time.

Mykhailo Podoliak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, confirmed shortly after the ministry's declaration that the two cities were preparing for evacuations.

The ministry's vaguely written statement did not clarify how long the evacuation routes would remain available, and Podoliak did not explain.

Ukraine's defense ministry quoted Podoliak as saying Friday evening that a "working group" comprised of Ukraine and Russia had been formed to evacuate residents from damaged areas.

According to Podoliak, the International Red Cross acted as a mediator between the two parties.

Ukrainian officials claim that Mariupol, an important port city in southeastern Ukraine, and Volnovakha, an eastern hamlet, have been besieged by Russian troops and subjected to severe shelling. Dozens of residents have been killed.

Oleksiy Danilov, the president of Ukraine's security council, had urged Russia to establish humanitarian corridors to allow children, women, and the elderly to flee the conflict, referring to such corridors as "question No. 1."

Corridors were considered during Ukraine's second round of peace talks with Russia on Thursday. The Ukrainian side had made this a central demand before the negotiations.

Along with civilian evacuations, the corridors will facilitate the delivery of food and medicine to the injured and military troops, medical personnel, and government officials who remain behind.

Russian media, citing the defense ministry, reported that Russia's forces are waging a "broad offensive" across Ukraine despite the partial ceasefires.