The evacuation of the last Ukrainian stronghold in Mariupol continued on Saturday.
Ukraine has evacuated all women, children and senior citizens from the Mariupol steel plant that’s been under constant assault since the Russian invasion began, government officials said Saturday. The Azovstal factory was the last Ukrainian stronghold in the eastern city of Mariupol, a target of relentless attacks by Russian forces since Vladimir Putin launched his unprovoked war Feb.24. Ordinary citizens and military personnel holed up in the plant for weeks before civilian evacuations began a week ago. Convoys have been moving people out even as Russian forces continued heavy shelling. “The president’s order has been carried out: All women, children and the elderly have been evacuated from Azovstal,” Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said. “This part of the Mariupol humanitarian operation has been completed.” Smoke rises from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol during shelling on Saturday. (Alexei Alexandrov/AP) There were still estimated to be some 2,000 fighters at Azovstal. Some are still in combat, while hundreds of others are believed to be wounded.
