KYIV: Though a third ceasefire was announced yesterday, the rescue mission turned impossible once again after opening the humanitarian corridor for Ukrainian citizens to Russia, and the failure to effectively stop the attack.

Russian tanks have reached populated areas west of the capital, Kyiv. Eight people, including two children, were killed in the attack on the settlement. Ukraine says it has recaptured Mikhailov airport and has killed 11,000 Russian soldiers so far. As per the UN, 406 civilians have been killed so far.

Following the ceasefire announcement, the Indian students, including the Malayalees trapped in Sumy, were on their way to the Russian border in four buses on the instructions of the Indian embassy but after learning about an explosion on their route, they abandoned the journey.

Russia, which has been on the offensive for 12 days, announced yesterday that the ceasefire would include corridors between Russia and Belarus to evacuate Ukrainian citizens and foreigners which irked the Ukrainian authorities. Ukraine says it is immoral to move its citizens into enemy territory.

Russia has suggested six corridors to evacuate civilians from areas that have come under heavy firing including Mariupol, Kharkiv, Sumy, where more than 700 people, including Malayalees, are trapped, and the capital, Kyiv.

The corridor from Kyiv was to Belarus, which is aiding the attack. The only corridor from Kharkiv was to Russia. Although two routes were suggested from Sumy and Mariupol, each route was to Russia. Russia's suggestion was to go to the destination from there.

The Red Cross said the three ceasefires were futile because both countries had not planned the situation well enough.

Russia tightens conditions in third round of talks

Third round of peace talks began at 7.30 pm IST. Russia's main demands are recognizing Crimea as a Russian territory, recognizing Donetsk and Luhansk as independent nations and amending the Constitution of Ukraine and ensure that it does not engage in military alliances such as NATO. Belarus, the venue for the two talks, is expected to be the venue for yesterday's talks. Talks are also likely to take place in Turkey on Thursday.

Indian Prime Minister had talked to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and requested them to reach an agreement regarding the ongoing crisis.