Ukraine hopes to rescue civilians from besiege city Mariupol on Friday

• Mariupol residents will find buses waiting for them in Berdiansk, which will carry them to Zaporizhzhia, says Ukraine Deputy PM  

Ukraine intends to provide a safe passage for residents to evacuate from the city of Mariupol in private cars on Friday, said Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk, Reuters reported. 

Attempts to arrange a safe passage out of the southern port city, which is encircled by the Russian military, have failed several times.

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Those who manage to flee Mariupol will find buses waiting for them in Berdiansk, which will carry them to Zaporizhzhia, according to Vereshchuk.

"We will do everything in our power so that buses filled with Mariupol residents reach Zaporizhzhia today," Deputy Prime Minister said, the agency quoted. 

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The Russian military has besieged Mariupol, a vital Black Sea port city, and has shelled it mercilessly, trapping hundreds of thousands of residents.

According to a statement from the local council, as of March 17 around 30,000 people have been able to flee the city so far, but more than 350,000 people remain trapped in the city without enough food, water, or medical supplies. 

Picture Credits: The Guardian