Ukraine announced that 500 more civilians, including those trapped in the Azovstal Iron and Steel Factory, which the Russian army declared occupied, were evacuated from Mariupol, in the southeast of the country, yesterday, with the operation led by the United Nations (UN). It has been announced that a third civilian evacuation operation will take place today.
Andriy Yermak, one of Zelensky’s top advisers, said they carried out a “complex operation” yesterday; He said the country will continue to do everything necessary “to save all civilians and soldiers,” and thanked the UN for helping with this evacuation via Telegram.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk said yesterday that today’s operation will focus on those trapped inside the Azovstal Iron and Steel Plant.
In a phone call with Vereshchuk AFP News Agency, he also stated that the evacuation will take place from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhia and will arrive at the Port City Shopping Center at 12.00 local time. However, he did not give further details.
President Vladimir Putin, on the other hand, stated that Russian forces are ready to provide a safe evacuation corridor for all civilians, but that the soldiers must surrender.
It is thought that up to 200 civilians took shelter in the Azovstal Iron and Steel Factory, where the resistance continues.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that everything necessary must be done to get people out of here.
Putin declared victory in Mariupol and ordered his troops to block entry and exit instead of controlling the industrial zone designed to be used as a nuclear bunker during the Cold War.
A three-day ceasefire was signed yesterday under the leadership of the UN, and the first evacuation of 500 people took place.
But Ukrainian forces, such as Azov soldiers, some sailors, border forces and police who remained at the factory, said the Russian attacks continued.
Commander of the Azov battalion, Sviatoslav Palamar, stated that the Ukrainian forces had “tough and bloody” clashes with the Russian soldiers who managed to enter the facility.
But the Kremlin denied it, saying the humanitarian corridor was opened as part of the three-day ceasefire that began on Thursday.
There are at least 20 children in the factory; Food and water are declining rapidly.