Mayor’s office: "250 residents of Izyum evacuated despite intense shelling by occupying forces"

Despite intense shelling by Russian occupying forces, local authorities and territorial defence units were able to evacuate approximately 250 residents of the city of Izyum in Kharkiv region.

Source: Oleh Syniehubov, head of Kharkiv military regional administration; Volodymyr Matsokin, deputy city mayor  

Quote by Matsokin: "Approximately 250 Izyum residents have been evacuated. Today they pounded [the city] with everything they have, with insane ferocity.

Under fire, people were evacuated by the territorial defence units, and then buses picked them up outside the city. 

The territorial defence fighters are true heroes.

In practical terms, the ‘humanitarian corridor’ did not operate. Russia cynically lied to us and to the entire world."

Details: The Mayor’s office announced that the evacuees are now in the town of Sloviansk, in the Donetsk region.

Mr. Syniehubov said that dozens of buses that had left to collect Izyum residents could not reach their destination because of constant shelling by the occupier. Only 6 buses were successful in hurriedly evacuating 250 residents.

Additionally, humanitarian aid of food, warm clothes, drinking water and medicines couldn’t get through into the city.

According to the Kharkiv military administration, more than 5,000 city residents are staying in shelters without electricity, water or heating. There is no mobile signal or internet in the city; TV and radio are not working.

Matsokin explained that residents were assembled and picked up in the southern part of the city, because the northern part is occupied by Russia’s invading forces (the city is divided into two parts by the Siverskyi Donets river).

Background: 

• As of 9 March the city of Izyum was encircled by Russian occupying forces and had sustained intense shelling by heavy artillery. Residential buildings and critical infrastructure (including the city hospital) had been destroyed.
• Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk announced that the Ukrainian authorities had managed to reach an agreement with Russian occupying forces regarding the times and routes of evacuation for civilians from six cities where combat activities are taking place. The plan was to evacuate Izyum residents to the city of Lozova, Kharkiv region.
• On 8 March, the occupiers made a gunpoint proposition to the residents of Kharkiv region to evacuate to Belgorod, Russian Federation.