Mariupol: A call for residents to evacuate

Vadym Boichenko, Mayor of Mariupol called on residents to evacuate from the besieged city, through the corridor negotiated with Russia on Wednesday.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister announced the opening of a corridor earlier.

Mayor stated at a designated central meeting point that the evacuation will begin at 2 p.m.

Additional boarding points would be available near the Azovstal steel industry and a shopping mall, which is a stronghold of Ukrainian military defense.

The evacuation would proceed from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhia via Tokmak.

The mayor addressed that the people of Mariupol survived such inhumane conditions with courage and bravery.

He added that they did not have access to any sort of information.

He concluded by saying that people are waiting in Zaporizhzhia for their arrival, and it will be safe there.

According to Boichenko, the city had a population of 400,000 residents before war, and 200,000 Mariupol residents have been able to evacuate.

Ukrainian authorities accuse Russia of forcing thousands of others into Russian territories.

He wanted citizens to spread the word regarding evacuation spots, among the trapped in Mariupol.