Ukraine calls on Russia to let civilians, wounded soldiers leave Azovstal plant

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - Ukraine's deputy prime minister on Thursday called on Russia to establish an "urgent" humanitarian corridor for civilians and wounded soldiers to leave Mariupol's besieged Azovstal plant.

"We demand from the Russians an urgent humanitarian corridor from the Mariupol plant 'Azovstal'!" Iryna Vereshchuk said on Telegram.

Noting that there are about 1,000 civilians and 500 wounded soldiers in the Azovstal plant, Vereshchuk said: "They all need to be pulled out of Azovstal today!"

"I call on world leaders and the international community to focus their efforts on Azovstal now. Now this is a key point and a key moment for the humanitarian effort !!!" she added.

Earlier, Russia's defense minister said the Russian army has taken control of Ukraine's besieged port city of Mariupol.

Sergey Shoygu suggested that the Azovstal plant, the last bastion of Ukrainian troops, be stormed, but President Vladimir Putin said he ordered the military to cancel plans to storm it.

Thousands of people were trapped in Mariupol over the past several days with little food or water as Russian forces besieged the city.

With rights group having no access to the city, a UN team reported that it has growing evidence of mass graves in Mariupol.

Since Russia began its war on Feb. 24, the civilian death toll in Ukraine has climbed to 2,224, while 2,897 others have been injured, according to UN estimates, with the true figure feared to be much higher.

More than 5 million Ukrainians have fled to other countries, with over 7 million more internally displaced, said the UN refugee agency.