Humanitarian convoy arrives in Melitopol, and will take people back

Iryna Balachuk – Friday, 25 March 2022, 08:38

Humanitarian aid convoy has arrived in the city of Melitopol in the Zaporizhzhia region of southeastern Ukraine, with buses able to evacuate around 350 people on the way back.

Source: Ivan Fedorov, the Mayor of Melitopol, in a Facebook video address

According to Fedorov: "At 19:00 yesterday humanitarian convoys were not allowed into Melitopol. State Emergency Service vehicles, buses, trucks – they could all already see the Melitopol obelisk but the Russian troops decided not to let the convoy through. They only let it in this morning. Currently the humanitarian convoy is at the fire station on Heroyiv Stalinhrada Street; all of the essentials that have been delivered for Melitopol residents are being unloaded: food, medicine, personal hygiene items, and so on."

Details: Fedorov added that on the way back the buses will evacuate those residents of Melitopol who want to go to Zaporizhzhia. Around 350 in total can be evacuated this way.

The departure of the evacuation buses is planned for 08:30-09:00.

The Mayor noted that given the number of messages he receives, a lot of people want to leave Melitopol, not all of whom will be able to make it this time.

However, Fedorov expects that humanitarian aid and evacuation will continue on a regular basis.

Melitopol is currently under the control of the Russian occupiers.