Russian agencies: 25 civilians evacuated from Mariupol steelworks

from Siege Steel Mill Azovstal According to the reports of Russian news agencies, 25 civilians have been evacuated from Mariupol port in Ukraine. be among those saved six kids, both Tas and Riya Novosti reported on Saturday, citing their respective correspondents. The information could not be independently verified. According to information from Ukraine, about 1,000 civilians are said to have taken refuge in steelworks bunkers – and are now trapped.

Russia, on the other hand, talks about 2,500 Ukrainian fighters and foreign mercenaries who are also said to have been hiding there. So far, they have refused to surrender and abandon the strategically important city on the Azov Sea, much of which has already been taken by the Russians.

With the mediation of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Kyiv and Moscow recently agreed to establish a humanitarian corridor for exodus of civilians. However, there has been no major breakthrough in the evacuation so far. More than nine weeks after the start of the Russian offensive, the situation for those trapped in the Azovstal actions is considered dire. (dpa)