Ukrainian officials and the United Nations say they hope to arrange more evacuations from the bombed-out steel mill in Mariupol.
Russian troops have resumed their attack on the plant in the southern port city, where some Ukrainian fighters are still holed up.
A total of 101 people have emerged from the bunkers under the Azovstal steelworks to “see the daylight after two months”, said Osnat Lubrani, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine.
In his late night address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the initial evacuations were “not a victory yet, but it’s already a result”.
He added: “I believe there’s still a chance to save other people.”
It is unclear how many Ukrainian fighters are still inside, but the Russians put the number at about 2,000 in recent weeks, and 500 were reported to be wounded.
A few hundred civilians also remained there, Ukrainian deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk said.
“We’ll do everything that’s possible to repel the assault, but we’re calling for urgent measures to evacuate the civilians that remain inside the plant and to bring them out safely,” Sviatoslav Palamar, deputy commander of Ukraine’s Azov Regiment, said.
He added that throughout the night, the plant was hit with naval artillery fire and airstrikes. Two civilian women were killed and 10 civilians wounded, he said.
Ms Lubrani expressed hope for further evacuations but said none had been worked out.
