The Russian military announced on Saturday, March 5 that it will be opening humanitarian corridors in Ukraine from 9:00 am local time.

The Defense Ministry of Russia also said they are introducing a "regime of silence" for the exit of the civilian population from the cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha.

"Humanitarian corridors and exit routes have been agreed with the Ukrainian side," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

"Today, on March 5, from 10 am Moscow time, the Russian side is declaring a regime of silence and opening humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha," the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The decision to create humanitarian corridors was made following the second round of Russian-Ukrainian talks held in Belovezhskaya Pushcha on March 3. The third round of negotiations was supposed to be held on March 5 or 6.