Zelensky: more than 7,000 people evacuated on Friday

Zelensky: more than 7,000 people evacuated on Friday

A total of 7,144 people were evacuated from four cities on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky said in a televised address on Friday night, according to Reuters news agency. That is a much lower number than the two days before, when according to Ukraine some 35,000 and 40,000 people could be evacuated respectively.

Zelensky accused Russia of not allowing people to leave the besieged city of Mariupol. The cities from which people were able to flee through humanitarian corridors on Friday are Chernihiv, Enerhodar, Hostomel and Kozarovichi.

According to the president, the situation in Mariupol is deteriorating by the day. “Russian troops will not let our aid into the city and continue to torture our people.” There has been no electricity and running water in the strategically important southern port city for more than a week. Zelensky said another attempt will be made on Saturday to get food, water and medicines into Mariupol.

According to local authorities, shelling in Mariupol has killed nearly 1,600 civilians so far. Russia argues that right-wing extremist militias want to keep the civilian population in the city as human shields.