War against Ukraine: All women and children evacuated from steel mill

They were locked up for weeks in the Mariupol steelworks, which was besieged by Russia. Now all the women, children and older people have apparently been able to leave the plant. In other parts of the country, the Russian army continues its attacks.

While Russian attacks are being reported from several Ukrainian cities, efforts in Mariupol to rescue more civilians from the Azovstal steel plant, which has been under siege by the Russian army for weeks, have apparently been successful: according to official Ukrainian information, the last women, children and elderly people were able to leave the plant to be brought.

“This part of the humanitarian operation in Mariupol has been completed,” Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk wrote in the Telegram news service. She initially left open whether there were any civilians among the remaining men. The last remaining Ukrainian fighters who are opposing the Russian troops are also holed up on the factory premises.

The pro-Russian separatists fighting alongside Moscow had previously announced the evacuation of 50 civilians. In other parts of Mariupol, where more than 400,000 people lived before the war, more people are said to be holding out.

The latest evacuation mission came about with the help of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Since Thursday, Russia’s military had assured fire breaks of several hours every day in the completely destroyed city on the Azov Sea. The last one was supposed to end on Saturday night.

Observers assume that the Kremlin wants to take Azovstal as soon as possible so that it can announce the complete conquest of Mariupol on Russia’s “Victory Day” next Monday – the 77th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany. This would be an important military success for Moscow. So far, Kherson is the only important Ukrainian city that is completely under Russian control.

Apparently heavy rocket attacks on Odessa

According to Ukrainian sources, the Russian army continued its offensive in other parts of the country. Attacks were reported from several cities. According to Ukrainian sources, at least four Russian rockets have been fired at the southern Ukrainian port of Odessa. Local media showed thick plumes of black smoke over the city area. According to reports, a military airfield was hit. The authorities initially gave no information on possible victims. So far there has been no confirmation from the Russian side.

Explosions – some from anti-aircraft defenses – were also reported from neighboring Mykolayiv Oblast, central Ukrainian Poltava and western Ukrainian Khmelnytskyi. At least one person was injured in an airstrike in the north-east Ukrainian region of Sumy, near the border.

According to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Russian troops destroyed three road bridges in the Kharkiv region in order to stop Ukrainian counterattacks. The Ukrainian-controlled city of Severodonetsk in the eastern Luhansk region was “virtually surrounded” according to its mayor on Friday.

According to Ukrainian rescue services, a technical college in Kostyantynivka, Donetsk region, was hit by a rocket and set on fire. At least two people have died. According to the authorities, there were “massive bombing raids” along the front line.

Worry in advance of “Victory Day”

Previously, Ukrainian authorities had warned of increased Russian airstrikes in connection with the upcoming Russian “Victory Day”. President Vladimir Putin will speak at the traditional large military parade on May 9 in Moscow. He is expected to set the course for the war of aggression against Ukraine. Western observers think it’s possible that he could officially declare war on Ukraine or announce general mobilization, even though the Kremlin has so far dismissed such plans as “nonsense.”

The Ukrainian President therefore called for caution and discipline. “I ask all our citizens – and especially these days – not to ignore the air alert,” said the head of state in a video address. “Please, this is your life, your children’s life.” Zelenskyy warned that Ukrainians should strictly follow the orders of the authorities and adhere to local curfews.

The Ukrainian Ministry of the Interior announced that it would patrol with 5,000 men to prevent possible provocations. In cities close to the front, such as Odessa, a curfew is to apply for two days. In the capital Kyiv, there will be no such thing, said Mayor Vitali Klitschko. But he also advised people to stay at home. “In the coming days there is a high probability of rocket fire in all regions of Ukraine,” he said.