Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on April 20. AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on April 20. AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on April 20. AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on April 20. AP

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Russia is helpless, says Zelenskyy as Mariupol evacuation breaks down

Ukrainian president says his people are working every day to evacuate those still trapped at Azovstal

Soraya Ebrahimi
Soraya Ebrahimi

May 03, 2022

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that the Russian military continued to try to storm the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol despite evacuation agreements.

Mr Zelenskyy said 156 people have reached Zaporizhzhia today, most of them women and children who spent more than two months in the bunkers under the steelworks.

“Finally, these people are completely safe. They will get help,” he said. “This is not a victory yet but it’s already a result. And I believe that there is a chance to save others of our people.”

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Mr Zelenskyy vowed to continue attempts to evacuate everyone left behind at Azovstal, civilians and soldiers.

“Of course, we will continue to do everything to get all our people out of Mariupol and Azovstal," he said.

"It’s difficult. But we need everyone who is still there, both civilians and soldiers. There wasn’t any day when we did not deal with this issue, when our people were not trying to solve it."

Ukrainian commanders said on Tuesday that Russian troops backed by tanks began storming the sprawling plant, which includes a maze of tunnels and bunkers spread out over 11 square kilometres.

The number of Ukrainian fighters inside was unclear, but the Russians put the number at about 2,000 in recent weeks, and 500 were reported to be wounded.

A few hundred civilians also remained there, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said.

A woman rescues some of her belongings from her house in Irpin, near Kyiv, which was nearly completely destroyed by Russian bombing in late March. AP
A woman rescues some of her belongings from her house in Irpin, near Kyiv, which was nearly completely destroyed by Russian bombing in late March. AP
A driver helps a woman board a bus at a reception centre for displaced people in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. AP
A driver helps a woman board a bus at a reception centre for displaced people in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. AP
People fleeing Mariupol's Azovstal plant arrive on buses at a registration and processing area for internally displaced people in Zaporizhzhia. AFP
People fleeing Mariupol's Azovstal plant arrive on buses at a registration and processing area for internally displaced people in Zaporizhzhia. AFP
A woman stands next to her home in Irpin, near Kyiv, after it was nearly completely destroyed by Russian bombing. AP
A woman stands next to her home in Irpin, near Kyiv, after it was nearly completely destroyed by Russian bombing. AP
People hold banners and shout slogans during a demonstration in support of Mariupol defenders in Kyiv, Ukraine. Getty Images
People hold banners and shout slogans during a demonstration in support of Mariupol defenders in Kyiv, Ukraine. Getty Images
A woman stands near her house that was destroyed by shelling in Sloboda, Chernihiv region, Ukraine. Reuters
A woman stands near her house that was destroyed by shelling in Sloboda, Chernihiv region, Ukraine. Reuters
A mother and child in Lviv, Ukraine, wait to board transport destined for Przemysl, Poland. Getty Images
A mother and child in Lviv, Ukraine, wait to board transport destined for Przemysl, Poland. Getty Images
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy claps as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson addresses the Ukrainian Parliament in Kyiv via videolink. Reuters
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy claps as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson addresses the Ukrainian Parliament in Kyiv via videolink. Reuters
Firefighters work to extinguish flames after a Russian bombardment at a park in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP Photo
Firefighters work to extinguish flames after a Russian bombardment at a park in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP Photo
The television tower is illuminated in the national colors of the Ukrainian flag to show solidarity with the country at the Olympic Park in Munich, southern Germany. AFP
The television tower is illuminated in the national colors of the Ukrainian flag to show solidarity with the country at the Olympic Park in Munich, southern Germany. AFP
Flooded gardens and fields are shown in Demydiv, Ukraine. To keep Russian armoured columns at bay, Ukrainian forces released water from a nearby hydroelectric dam to intentionally flood Demydiv, a village north of Kyiv. The decision was effective, but efforts to drain the area are complicated. Getty Images
Flooded gardens and fields are shown in Demydiv, Ukraine. To keep Russian armoured columns at bay, Ukrainian forces released water from a nearby hydroelectric dam to intentionally flood Demydiv, a village north of Kyiv. The decision was effective, but efforts to drain the area are complicated. Getty Images
A damaged Orthodox icon is seen in the corner of local resident Yurii's heavily damaged house in Fenevychi, Ukraine. Getty Images
A damaged Orthodox icon is seen in the corner of local resident Yurii's heavily damaged house in Fenevychi, Ukraine. Getty Images
Valentyna, 71, stands by her cat, who was injured in the fighting, in Fenevychi. Getty Images
Valentyna, 71, stands by her cat, who was injured in the fighting, in Fenevychi. Getty Images
Yurii, 53, stands in his heavily damaged house in Fenevychi. Getty Images
Yurii, 53, stands in his heavily damaged house in Fenevychi. Getty Images
Evacuees from the eastern Ukraine city of Lyman, which has suffered heavy shelling, ride on a bus in Raihorodok. AFP
Evacuees from the eastern Ukraine city of Lyman, which has suffered heavy shelling, ride on a bus in Raihorodok. AFP
A man delivers loaves of bread to a woman in the eastern Ukraine city of Lyman. AFP
A man delivers loaves of bread to a woman in the eastern Ukraine city of Lyman. AFP
Nazar, right, boards a bulletproof bus to evacuate with his family from the eastern Ukraine city of Lyman. AFP
Nazar, right, boards a bulletproof bus to evacuate with his family from the eastern Ukraine city of Lyman. AFP
A dog chases a hare by the wall of a burnt house in Fenevychi. Getty Images
A dog chases a hare by the wall of a burnt house in Fenevychi. Getty Images
Nine-year-old Galina, right, and Nazar, 8, arrive with their families in Raihorodok. AFP
Nine-year-old Galina, right, and Nazar, 8, arrive with their families in Raihorodok. AFP
Natalia Pototska, 43, cries as her grandson Matviy looks on in Zaporizhzhia. AP
Natalia Pototska, 43, cries as her grandson Matviy looks on in Zaporizhzhia. AP
Hryhorii, a member of the Ukrainian military meets his wife Oksana, who fled from the Russian-occupied Novomykhailivka village, at the evacuation point in Zaporizhzhia. EPA
Hryhorii, a member of the Ukrainian military meets his wife Oksana, who fled from the Russian-occupied Novomykhailivka village, at the evacuation point in Zaporizhzhia. EPA
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomes Denmark's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeppe Kofod to Kyiv. Reuters
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomes Denmark's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeppe Kofod to Kyiv. Reuters
Buildings destroyed by Russian shelling in Borodianka, in Ukraine's Kyiv region. Reuters
Buildings destroyed by Russian shelling in Borodianka, in Ukraine's Kyiv region. Reuters
Volunteers carry an elderly woman in a blanket during the evacuation of a frontline village retaken by Ukrainian forces in Kharkiv. Reuters
Volunteers carry an elderly woman in a blanket during the evacuation of a frontline village retaken by Ukrainian forces in Kharkiv. Reuters
A Ukrainian man walks past the turret of a Russian tank next to a destroyed petrol station in the village of Skybyn, north-east of Kyiv. AFP
A Ukrainian man walks past the turret of a Russian tank next to a destroyed petrol station in the village of Skybyn, north-east of Kyiv. AFP
Andrii Fedorov hugs his son Makar as they are reunited in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, after the boy and his mother fled besieged Mariupol. AP
Andrii Fedorov hugs his son Makar as they are reunited in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, after the boy and his mother fled besieged Mariupol. AP
Volunteers at the Help Ukraine Center in Lublin, south-eastern Poland. More than 3 million Ukrainian refugees are now in Poland. EPA
Volunteers at the Help Ukraine Center in Lublin, south-eastern Poland. More than 3 million Ukrainian refugees are now in Poland. EPA
Police officers deliver loaves of bread to residents in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lyman, which is being heavily shelled. AFP
Police officers deliver loaves of bread to residents in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lyman, which is being heavily shelled. AFP
Savelii, 10, mourns at the grave of his father, who died protecting his city as a member of the Territorial Defence, in Irpin, Ukraine. EPA
Savelii, 10, mourns at the grave of his father, who died protecting his city as a member of the Territorial Defence, in Irpin, Ukraine. EPA
Ukrainian soliders ride on a truck to a resting place after fighting in the front line for two months near Kramatorsk. AFP
Ukrainian soliders ride on a truck to a resting place after fighting in the front line for two months near Kramatorsk. AFP
A shopkeeper clears shelves before closing up in Sviatohirsk, eastern Ukraine, amid the Russian invasion. AFP
A shopkeeper clears shelves before closing up in Sviatohirsk, eastern Ukraine, amid the Russian invasion. AFP
Civilians who left the area near Azovstal steel plant as part of an evacuation of Mariupol arrive at temporary accommodation in Bezimenne, Donetsk region. Reuters
Civilians who left the area near Azovstal steel plant as part of an evacuation of Mariupol arrive at temporary accommodation in Bezimenne, Donetsk region. Reuters
Azovstal steel plant employee Valeria, who was part of an evacuation of Mariupol, hugs her son Matvey, who had earlier left the city with his relatives, as they meet again in Bezimenne, Donetsk. Reuters
Azovstal steel plant employee Valeria, who was part of an evacuation of Mariupol, hugs her son Matvey, who had earlier left the city with his relatives, as they meet again in Bezimenne, Donetsk. Reuters
A pro-Russian troop stands guard in Bezimenne, Donetsk. Reuters
A pro-Russian troop stands guard in Bezimenne, Donetsk. Reuters
A picture taken during a visit to Mariupol organised by the Russian military shows Russian serviceman on patrol outside the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in Enerhodar, south-eastern Ukraine. EPA
A picture taken during a visit to Mariupol organised by the Russian military shows Russian serviceman on patrol outside the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in Enerhodar, south-eastern Ukraine. EPA
A woman is assisted during the UN-led evacuation of the Azovstal steel plant, after nearly two months of siege warfare on Mariupol by Russia. Reuters
A woman is assisted during the UN-led evacuation of the Azovstal steel plant, after nearly two months of siege warfare on Mariupol by Russia. Reuters
Civilians gather for humanitarian aid, distributed by the Donetsk People Republic Emergency Situations Ministry in Berdyansk, in territory under the government of the Donetsk People's Republic, eastern Ukraine. AP
Civilians gather for humanitarian aid, distributed by the Donetsk People Republic Emergency Situations Ministry in Berdyansk, in territory under the government of the Donetsk People's Republic, eastern Ukraine. AP
Ukrainian servicemen are seen near a T-80 tank captured from Russian troops in Kharkiv region. Reuters
Ukrainian servicemen are seen near a T-80 tank captured from Russian troops in Kharkiv region. Reuters
A Ukrainian soldier takes a break from the conflict and tries to pet a stork in Barvinkove, Kharkiv region. Reuters
A Ukrainian soldier takes a break from the conflict and tries to pet a stork in Barvinkove, Kharkiv region. Reuters
A satellite image shows damage at the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol, Ukraine. AP
A satellite image shows damage at the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol, Ukraine. AP

In his nightly address, Mr Zelenskyy said Russian strikes on several cities were a response to Ukrainian “successes”.

“They are trying to vent their helplessness because Ukraine is beyond their power,” he said.

“The more there are such strikes, the farther Russia is from civilisation, from what is called being civil.”

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

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'Worse than a prison sentence'

Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.

“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.

“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.

“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.

“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.

“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”

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Updated: May 04, 2022, 5:30 AM`
Volodymyr ZelenskyyUkraineRussia