Ukraine says over 4,600 civilians evacuated to safe zones

By Ruslan Rehimov

KYIV, Ukraine (AA) – Ukraine’s deputy prime minister announced Thursday that 4,676 civilians were evacuated to safe zones from the country’s war-zone regions and evacuations will continue in the coming days.

Iryna Vereshchuk said a total of 3,256 civilians from the Mariupol and Berdyansk regions under blockade by Russian forces crossed into Zaporozhye in buses and their own vehicles.

Another 1,420 people from various parts of Ukraine’s Luhansk region also reached safe areas.

The Russia-Ukraine war, which started Feb. 24, has drawn international outrage, with the European Union, US and UK, among others, implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.

At least 1,611 civilians have been killed in Ukraine and 2,227 injured, according to UN estimates, with the true figure feared to be far higher.

More than 4.3 million Ukrainians have fled to other countries, with millions more internally displaced, according to the UN refugee agency.

*Writing by Merve Berker