Ukrainian Government: "Evacuation of Women, Children, and Elderly Completed at Azovstal"

The Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, a southern port city of Ukraine, is in ruins with smoke rising due to concentrated attacks by Russian forces.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The Ukrainian government announced that the evacuation of women, children, and the elderly has been completed as Ukrainian forces continue their "final stand" at Azovstal in the southern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol.

According to major foreign media, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk stated in a statement on the 7th (local time) that all women, children, and elderly people who were at Azovstal have been evacuated.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a late-night speech that day, "More than 300 civilians have been rescued from the Azovstal plant." President Zelensky added, "We will now focus on evacuating medical personnel and the wounded, and help residents trapped in other parts of Mariupol to evacuate safely."

The Ukrainian government, the United Nations, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have been focusing on evacuating civilians trapped in Azovstal since the 1st of this month. The previous day, 50 people, including 11 children, were evacuated.

Separately from the civilian evacuation, Ukrainian forces determined to fight to the death remain at Azovstal. It is reported that about 2,000 soldiers, including members of the paramilitary Azov Regiment, are hiding in tunnels and bunkers within the site.

Meanwhile, there are forecasts that Russia will launch a full-scale offensive on Mariupol ahead of Victory Day on the 9th (commemorating the victory in World War II).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.