The evacuation column took the first civilians from “Azovstal” in Mariupol, but didn’t take the wounded Ukrainian servicemen.
This was announced by Deputy Commander of the Azov Regiment Captain Svyatoslav Palamar (Kalyna).
"From 6:00 AM we waited for the arrival of the evacuation column, which arrived only at 6:25 PM. As of 7:40 PM we transferred to the agreed place 20 civilians who were rescued from the rubble, women and children. We hope that these people will go in the agreed direction as for Zaporizhzhia, to the territory controlled by Ukraine. As for the wounded, they are people who need the necessary medical care, but we don't know why they are not taken away, and they are not about their evacuation to the territory controlled by Ukraine," Kalyna emphasized.
He stressed that “Azov” asks "to guarantee the departure not only of civilians, but also of our wounded servicemen who need medical care."
As for the course of the evacuation, the Deputy Commander of “Azov” said that enemy artillery was working on the territory of the plant all night, which "caused new blockages, new destruction."
"The regime of silence, which was supposed to start at 6:00 AM, started only at 11:00 AM. And yes, it’s true that as of now both sides adhere to the regime of silence," Palamar added.
He said that the Ukrainian military is currently rescuing civilians from the rubble.
"A special rescue operation is being carried out by Azov Regiment servicemen, where we are rescuing people, elderly people, women and children, from under the rubble. We hope that this process will continue and we will be able to evacuate all civilians," - the Deputy Commander of “Azov” added.
Earlier the Mariupol City Council reported that today, it will probably be possible to take out residents of the city blocked by russians to the territory controlled by Ukraine.
The Mayor of the besieged city stressed that hundreds of civilians remain in “Azovstal”. There is almost no food, water or medicine at the plant. Therefore, the rescue of people is needed immediately, because the bill goes on for hours.
CNN reported that almost all the buildings at “Azovstal” in Mariupol, where Ukrainian defenders are hiding, have been destroyed.