Mayor of Ukrainian city demands safe corridor to evacuate civilians

By Bahtiyar Abdulkerimov

KYIV, Ukraine (AA) - The mayor of a major city in southeastern Ukraine requested urgent safe passage for stranded civilians Friday amid intense Russian bombing.

Residents in Mariupol, which has been under heavy shelling by Russian forces for the last five days, are forced to live without food, water and electricity, said Vadym Boychenko.

Speaking on a local television channel, the mayor underlined the importance of emergency humanitarian assistance for stranded civilians.

He noted that around 300 hundred injured people were being treated in hospitals in the city where doctors were trying their best to support patients since the beginning of the Russian military operation against Ukraine began Feb. 24.

Russian troops are attacking the hospitals, he said.

"We need military support. We need safe a corridor for the evacuation of civilians and the fighting must be stopped," he said, estimating that around 400,000 residents are waiting for help and safe passage.

"Today, I'm begging for the support for Mariupol city," he added.

Since the war began, it has been met by outrage from the international community, with the EU, UK and US implementing a range of economic sanctions on Russia.

According to UN figures, at least 331 civilians have been killed and 675 injured in Ukraine since the start of the war.

More than 1.2 million people have also fled to neighboring countries, according to the UN refugee agency.

In the second round of peace talks Thursday between Moscow and Kyiv, the two sides agreed to create humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians and food and medicine deliveries.