Broken ceasefires Russia’s history of transgression

Ever since Vladimir Putin deployed his military machine to Syria in 2015, Russia has been accused of using ceasefires for military ends.

In Syria, so-called de-escalation deals with “humanitarian corridors”, which were meant to allow civilians to flee, were brokered and then broken.

At best, a pause in hostility was often used by Russia to buy time, review tactics, regroup troops and make advances to secure a tactical advantage. At worst, it was claimed Russian soldiers or air strikes killed civilians, often then blaming rebels for using innocent people as human shields.

In Aleppo and Idlib, the routes of safe passage became known as “death corridors”.

In Aleppo in February 2016, Russia was accused of breaking a UN-agreed ceasefire after launching more than a dozen air strikes. There were numerous reports of civilians who tried to use the corridors being shot by sniper or rocket fire. Only a few people managed to get out.

Insurgents also claimed the ceasefire did not prevent Syrian and Russian forces targeting civilian infrastructure indiscriminately.

Emma Beals, an adviser at the European Institute of Peace, recently tweeted how Russia was likely to use a ceasefire to “strategically” create “corridors” to rebuild their assault, particularly “if bogged down and struggling with supplies”.

She added: “Russia is likely to agree in principle then propose unviable or unsafe corridors and problematise any movement of goods or assistance.

“Attacks on aid convoys, fleeing civilians and infrastructure are all possible and documented. Where achievable, international monitors and guarantors should be agreed upon and deployed to facilitate the safe passage of goods and civilians.”