Russian Defence Ministry says operation to evacuate civilians from Azovstal concludes

Kyiv: The humanitarian operation to evacuate civilians from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol concluded on Saturday due to unprecedented measures by Russia with 51 people, including 11 children, having been rescued, the head of the Russian National Defense Control Centre, Mikhail Mizintsev, said.

"Thanks to the unprecedented measures taken by the Russian Federation leadership, (and) with the active participation of the United Nations and International Committee of the Red Cross officials, the humanitarian operation to evacuate civilians from the Azovstal steel and ironworks has ended today. For the duration of the operation (from May 5, 2022), we have managed to rescue 51 people (18 men, 22 women and 11 children), including one person on May 7, 2022," Mizintsev said.