Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that hundreds of people had been removed from the Azovstal steel plant in Azov, and that preparations for a second stage of evacuation comprising the wounded and medics were under way.
UN attempts rescue as Russia pummels Mariupol
The Russian military had announced a three-day ceasefire at the site starting on Thursday, but a Ukrainian commander said there was still heavy fighting at the sprawling Azovstal complex, where hundreds of soldiers and civilians have been holed up for weeks under heavy bombardment.
Putin hails ‘liberation’ of Mariupol, but nixes steel plant raid
President Vladimir Putin said the ‘liberation’ of Mariupol was a ‘success’ for Russian forces, but also ordered Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to call off the planned storming of the Azovstal industrial area, dismissing it as "impractical". Around 2,000 Ukrainian forces are still in the plant.
