17:01 30-10-2025

Russia Offers Ceasefire to Allow Foreign Journalists into Blocked Ukrainian Areas

Russia’s Defense Ministry announced readiness to pause fighting for several hours to let foreign, including Ukrainian, journalists access areas with trapped Ukrainian forces.

The Russian Defense Ministry has declared its readiness to temporarily suspend hostilities to allow foreign journalists, including those from Ukrainian outlets, to access areas where Ukrainian troops remain encircled.

According to the ministry, Russian forces are prepared to cease fire for five to six hours if necessary. During this period, the military would provide safe corridors for media representatives to enter and leave the designated zones without obstruction, provided security guarantees are in place for both journalists and Russian personnel.

The ministry clarified that the decision to grant access to foreign reporters was made on the instruction of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The move concerns several locations — Pokrovsk, Myrnograd, and Kupyansk — where Ukrainian military units have been cut off.

Officials noted that this step would allow foreign correspondents, including Ukrainian journalists, to directly assess the situation on the ground, should they submit the necessary requests to the Ukrainian command.