The third round of negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian officials came to a close on Monday, not progressing much as civilians in cities throughout the country remain in the line of fire.
Both sides discussed setting up evacuation routes for civilians attempting to flee during the talks but failed to do so. One proposal from Moscow wanted to move residents of besieged cities towards Russia, but it was rejected on Monday.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky described Russia’s offer to set up “humanitarian corridors” is now more than “cynicism” and “propaganda.”
Russia is 12 days into its invasion of Ukraine, and heavily populated cities like Kyiv, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Mykolaiv, and Mariupol continue to face Russian artillery strikes while innocent civilians are trying to flee.
According to a senior U.S. defense official who spoke with the Washington Post, some civilians were hit by bombardments while trying to escape the fighting.
The same official said that it could not be confirmed if those civilians were hit intentionally, but Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of targeting the innocent.
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On Monday, north of Kyiv, civilians were rushing to find cover as artillery strikes hit. Adults, children, and the elderly in the area were attempting to flee an advancing Russian force across the Irpin River.
On Sunday, a mother and her two children lost their lives while attempting to escape via the same route when Russian artillery struck near them and killed them, New York Times.
Zelensky has said that his country is suffering and seeing what “no other European nation has seen in 80 years.”
Civilians attempting to escape are not the only ones falling victim to Russian bombardments, as there have been 14 attacks on healthcare facilities and personnel since the war began, according to the World Health Organization.
Since Feb. 24, more than 400 civilians have lost their lives, and 800 have been injured, according to the United Nations. It was also reported that 1.7 million refugees have fled from Ukraine into neighboring countries.
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