There is hope to save lives of Mariupol defenders - Zelensky

09:14, 17.05.2022 1 min read

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that there is hope that the lives of the defenders of Mariupol will be saved.

"Regarding the situation in Mariupol: thanks to the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, intelligence, the negotiating group, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN, we have hope that we will be able to save the lives of our guys. There are seriously wounded among them. They are being helped. I want to emphasize: Ukraine needs Ukrainian heroes alive. This is our principle," Zelensky said in a video message on Tuesday night.

"I think that every adequate person will understand these words," he said.

According to the president, the operation to rescue the defenders of Mariupol will continue.

"This work requires delicacy and time," he said.

Earlier, on the evening of May 16, on the air of the national telethon, Deputy Defense Minister Anna Maliar announced the evacuation of 53 seriously wounded and 211 more people from the territory of the Azovstal plant blocked by the Russian military.