20:12 & # 8211; The evacuation of the Azovstal factory in Mariupol, port besieged by the Russians in southeastern Ukraine, & # 8220; started & # 8221; and almost 100 civilians are heading to & # 8220; Ukrainian-controlled territory & # 8221 ;, announced today Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
& # 8220; The evacuation of civilians from Azovstal has begun. A first group of 100 Ukrainian civilians is heading towards the controlled territory (from Ukraine). Tomorrow we will welcome them in Zaporizhia & # 8221; west of Mariupol, Zelenski wrote on Twitter.
& # 8220; Thanks to our team! Working with UN envoys to evacuate civilians left on factory grounds, he added.
Russian news agencies TASS and Ria Novosti reported earlier that 40 people had been evacuated today. Azovstal plant, which is under siege by the Russian army, and moved to Moscow-controlled territories to the east.
According to the Ria Novosti correspondent, all those who have left have settled in a tent camp in the village of Bezimene, halfway between Mariupol and the Russian border.
According to the same source, staff members The Red Cross and the United Nations assisted in the evacuation operation.
Russia's Defense Ministry says 80 civilians have been evacuated from the huge Azovstal steel plant.
& # 8220; The UN confirms that an evacuation operation is underway at the Azovstal steel complex, in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the parties to the conflict, & # 8221; Geneva, without further details.
RES & # 8211; EIA/Stock Photo
19:00 & # 8211; The United Nations is conducting a “safe passage operation” for civilians from the Azofstal steel plant in Mariupol, a spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said today.
It is being co-ordinated with the International Committee of the Red Cross, Russia and Ukraine, UN humanitarian spokesman Saviano Abreu told Reuters.
not to endanger the safety of evacuees and convoys.
RES & # 8211; EIA
