Photo by Getty Images
The evacuation of civilians from Azovstal in Mariupol has begun, and the first 100 people have left for Zaporizhia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said.
“The first group of about 100 people is already heading to the controlled territory. We will meet them tomorrow in Zaporizhia. Thank you to our team! Now they are working with UN representatives to evacuate the rest of the civilians from the plant,” the president said.
The head of the negotiating team from Ukraine, David Arahamiya, said that “more than 100 Ukrainians, including children, women and the elderly, are finally safe.”
“There is still a lot of work and a lot of people ahead. However, Ukraine has once again proved that it does not leave its citizens in trouble. Even if it is hell,” Arahamiya added.
The authorities of Mariupol reported in their telegram channel that the gathering of people is scheduled for 16:00 near the shopping center “Port City”. The city hall called on the relatives of Mariupol to provide them with information about the evacuation.
“If you have relatives or acquaintances in Mariupol, try to contact them by all means. Call, write and say that it is possible to go to Zaporozhye, where it is safe.”
The Ukrainian military says about two dozen people have already left the metallurgical plant on Saturday, the last part of the city still under Ukrainian control.
Adviser to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Yuriy Sak spoke in more detail about the evacuation of the first group of civilians from the Azovstal industrial complex in Mariupol. He told the BBC it was a “glimmer of hope”.
“These are, of course, only small numbers, because Azovstal still has more than 1,000 civilians, as well as more than 500 wounded soldiers, who also need to be evacuated to receive the necessary medical care.”
“Although there is a glimmer of hope, the situation remains extremely difficult,” Sack added.
Photo by Getty Images
Russia’s Defense Ministry says two groups, 25 people, then 21, left homes near the steel plant on Saturday.
The media also reported that on Sunday, more than 50 people were transported from residential areas near Azovstal to filtration camps in the DNR.
Evacuation to the DNR
On Sunday afternoon, Reuters published photos showing about 40 civilians arriving from Mariupol to a temporary accommodation center in the village of Bezimenne in the DNR territory not controlled by Kyiv.
Mariupol residents left the territory near the Azovstal metallurgical plant.
Reuters photos show people boarding buses with Ukrainian license plates accompanying the Russian military and cars with UN symbols.
Reuters later reported the evacuation of 14 more people.
Photo by Reuters
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to block the plant with the last Ukrainian troops left in Mariupol.
Most previous attempts to evacuate civilians from Mariupol to Ukrainian-controlled territories have failed. Ukrainian authorities report the forced deportation of thousands of Mariupol residents to Russia.
Earlier in an interview with the BBC, Irina Vereshchuk said that only the UN can help evacuate Mariupol.
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