The first evacuees from Mariupol’s Azovstal steel plant are beginning to arrive in the Ukrainian-held city of Zaporizhzhia
Many spent over a month hiding from Russian shelling in underground bunkers with no sunlight and limited supplies of food and water.
More than a hundred residents of Mariupol were evacuated to Zaporizhzhia. For two months, they had been hiding in the bunkers of the Azovstal plant from Russian aviation bombs & artillery fire. They are provided with psychological assistance and examined by medics. pic.twitter.com/x6u5JIhcy3
— Franak Viačorka (@franakviacorka) May 2, 2022
The complex acted as a refuge for civilians and Ukrainian troops as Russia honed in on the port city of Mariupol.
Those who managed to escape Mariupol – no small feat – are given free clothing and food here in Zaporizhzhia before being taken in by volunteers for the night or continuing their journey west. Most have already spent days on the road, passing through endless Russian checkpoints. pic.twitter.com/MVk3TM3sBp
— Matthew Luxmoore (@mjluxmoore) May 2, 2022
The United Nations along with the International Committee of the Red Cross, Ukraine and Russia began the mission to evacuate women, children and the elderly from the steel works on April 29.
Our team is currently participating in an ongoing operation to facilitate the safe passage of civilians out of the Azovstal plant & Mariupol towards Zaporizhzhia.
— ICRC (@ICRC) May 1, 2022
This complex operation is conducted in coordination with the parties to the conflict & the @UN. pic.twitter.com/chIRndk0E0
Although there are reports that hundreds of people still remain trapped in the steel plant with several dozen of them being small children.
This family lived on a tug boat for two months before finally escaping #Mariupol with their dog & rabbit. The car bears testimony to how difficult a journey they’ve had #UkraineRussiaWar #Zaporizhzhia pic.twitter.com/itOy6TBzZY
— Julie Ritson (@juleslenshen) May 2, 2022
The National Guard commander says Russian forces have resumed heavy shelling after evacuees fled the area.
Mariupol’s city council estimates that around 80 to 90 per cent of the city’s building have been damaged or destroyed.
Meanwhile Ukraine’s civilian death toll has surpassed 3,000.
