We are negotiating and hope to continue rescuing people from Azovstal, from Mariupol. Such a statement made the President of Ukraine in a video address to the nation.

“The second stage of our evacuation operation from Mariupol was completed today. 344 people were rescued - from the city and its suburbs. That’s how many people departed to Zaporizhzhia today. Our team is getting ready to meet them. Meet in the same way as more than 150 people whom we managed to take out of Azovstal. They all receive the necessary help. All of them will receive the most caring treatment from our state.

I am grateful to all those who make the evacuation operation successful: Iryna Vereshchuk, Andriy Yermak, David Arakhamia, UN representatives, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and everyone who reached an agreement and provided silence and corridors for the people.

We are negotiating and hope to continue rescuing people from Azovstal, from Mariupol. There are still civilians. Women, children.

To save them, we need to continue the silence. The Ukrainian side is ready to provide it. It takes time to just lift people out of those basements, out of those underground shelters. In the current conditions, we cannot use special equipment to clear the debris. Everything is done manually. But we believe that everything will work out.

I spoke today with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. About what has already happened. What we still have to do to save Mariupol residents and defenders of the city. There was not a day when I didn’t do it, when we didn’t do it. And I am grateful to everyone who helps”, - said Volodymyr Zelensky.