The first evacuees from a besieged steel plant in Mariupol have arrived in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporizhzhia. At least 101 were evacuated, while 200 civilians remain inside the fortress-like steel mill, according to Mariupol's mayor.
remain inside the fortress-like steel mill. Russia, meanwhile, says around 2,000 Ukrainians fighters are inside the plant. Neither number has been confirmed.A Ukrainian commander claimed that on Tuesday Russian forces began an attempt to storm the plant,The civilian evacuees arrived in Ukrainian-held Zaporizhzhia looking exhausted, according to reporters on the scene. One elderly woman sobbed as she stepped off the transport bus.
“From the morning and during the night we were bombarded. Artillery, rockets, air strikes. Our children couldn’t sleep. They were crying. They were scared. And us as well," one evacuee named Katarinathe sun burned her eyes after she left the plant for the first time in two and a half months. Another woman, Ksenia Chebysheva, said her husband was among the soldiers still holed up inside the plant. "We're scared that after the evacuation of civilians, the guys will be left there. We don’t see any sign of help,"said in a statement that he hopes "the continued coordination with Kyiv and Moscow will lead to more humanitarian pauses that will allow civilians safe passage away from the fighting and aid to reach people where the needs are greatest.
Evacuees including some from the Azovstal plant wave as they arrive on a bus at an evacuation point in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on May 3. Photo: Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesPresident Vladimir Putin used a televised meeting on April 21 to effectively declare victory in Mariupol — which would be the largest city to fall to Russia — and to order his defense minister to seal off the plant rather than storm it.
The Ukrainian claims that Russian forces have now changed tactics and are advancing on the plant could not be immediately verified., and have for weeks refused Russian demands to surrender. If the plant finally falls, it will free up Russian troops to move north and link up with the broader Donbas offensive.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ukraine city awaits 1st evacuees from Mariupol steel plantPeople fleeing besieged Mariupol described weeks of bombardments and deprivations as they arrived Monday in Ukrainian-held territory, where relief workers awaited the first group of civilians freed from a steel plant that is last redoubt of Ukrainian fighters in the devastated port city.
Read more »
Ukraine city awaits 1st evacuees from Mariupol steel plantPeople fleeing besieged Mariupol described weeks of bombardments and deprivations as they arrived Monday in Ukrainian-held territory, where relief workers awaited the first group of civilians freed from a steel plant that is last redoubt of Ukrainian fighters in the devastated port city.
Read more »
First civilians leave Mariupol steel plant; hundreds remain in besieged Ukrainian cityPeople fleeing besieged Mariupol described weeks of bombardments and deprivation as they arrived Monday in Ukrainian-held territory.
Read more »
Evacuations under way in Mariupol; Pelosi visits UkraineAn operation to evacuate civilians from a steel plant in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol is under way.
Read more »
Russian forces have begun storming Mariupol plant, Ukrainian fighters sayRussian forces began storming a sprawling steel plant in the besieged port city of Mariupol on Tuesday, Ukrainian officers said.
Read more »