UN says ‘safe passage operation’ ongoing from Ukraine steel plant

An operation changed underway Sunday for civilians to go away from the besieged Azovstal metallic plant in the Ukrainian port metropolis of Mariupol, a UN spokesman said.

“UN confirms that a safe passage operation is ongoing in Azovstal steel plant, in coordination with the ICRC and the parties to the conflict,” spokesman Jens Laerke said.

He added that the convoy to evacuate the civilians had started on Friday, travelled some 230 kilometres (142 miles) and reached the plant in Mariupol on Saturday morning, local time.

Russian and Ukrainian figures for the operation have differed.

Russia’s defense ministry stated a complete of 46 civilians had left in groups on Saturday from the location across the Azovstal plant — the ultimate holdout of Ukrainian forces in the town.

On Saturday, the Ukrainian forces guarding the website said that 20 civilians, inclusive of children, had left the area.