A fresh operation is underway to free scores of civilians still trapped in underground bunkers in the Azovstal steelworks, the last holdout in the devastated city of Mariupol.
Russia’s military promised to pause its activity in Azovstal during Thursday and the following two days to allow civilians to leave, after what Ukrainian fighters described as “bloody battles” prevented evacuations. Ukraine’s deputy prime minister said evacuees would be able to leave the besieged port city at noon local time on Friday.
