Ukraine hopes for seven humanitarian corridors after 35,000 allowed to leave

Evacuations came after Moscow and Kyiv agreed on more routes for residents to flee

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  This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows destroyed and burning warehouse buildings in Stoyanka, Ukraine, in the western Kyiv region, during the Russian invasion. AP

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  Children shelter in a metro station in Kharkiv. Moscow said on March 10, 2022, that it will open daily humanitarian corridors to allow civilians fleeing fighting in Ukraine to reach Russian territory, despite Kyiv insisting that no evacuation routes should lead to Russia. AFP

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  Russian President Vladimir Putin during a videoconference meeting with government members at the Kremlin in Moscow. The meeting focuses on minimising the effects of sanctions on the Russian economy. Russian troops entered Ukraine on February 24, prompting the country's president to declare martial law and triggering a series of severe economic sanctions imposed by western countries. EPA

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  Rescuers work among remains of buildings damaged by an air strike in Dnipro, Ukraine, as Russia's attack on the country continues. Reuters

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  Members of the National Guard of Ukraine, Oleksandr and Olena, listen to a priest at their wedding in Ukraine. Reuters

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  People fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine warm up by a fire near the train station in Lviv, Ukraine. Reuters

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  Russian forces rolled their armoured vehicles up to the northeastern edge of Kyiv, edging closer in their attempts to encircle the Ukrainian capital. AFP

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  A woman covers herself with a blanket near a damaged fire truck after shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine. AP Photo

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  A Ukrainian soldier hides from a helicopter air strike near Demydiv, Ukraine. Reuters

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  Ukrainian soldiers walk past a monument of the city founder Duke de Richelieu, covered with sand bags for protection, in Odessa, Ukraine. Reuters

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  Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, centre, and Ukranian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. EPA

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  Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in talks with Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba during a tripartite meeting chaired by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, in Antalya, Turkey. AP

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  Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova speaks to the media as the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Russia and Turkey hold talks in Antalya, 15 days after Russia launched a military invasion on Ukraine. AFP

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  A Ukrainian serviceman says goodbye to his girlfriend before departing in the direction of Kyiv at the central train station in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. AFP

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  Valerii Sushkevych, president of the Ukraine National Paralympic Committee, and the Ukraine delegation raise their fists and pose with a banner at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games. Reuters

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  A member of the Ukrainian team cries during a moment of silence at the Zhangjiakou athletes village during the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games. AFP

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  Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, right, and Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kubela, second left, in Antalya, Turkey. AFP

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  A man is supported after crossing the Irpin river while fleeing the town of Irpin, Ukraine. AP

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  People are helped out of a damaged children's hospital following a Russian air strike in the southeastern city of Mariupol, Ukraine. AFP

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  A man rides a bicycle in front of an apartment building that was damaged by shelling in Mariupol. AP

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  A woman carries two babies after arriving at a triage point in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP

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  A man hugs an elderly woman after crossing a damaged bridge as they flee from the frontline town of Irpin, near the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. EPA

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  Local residents cook at a makeshift camp next to a checkpoint in Kyiv. EPA

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  Ukrainian men chop wood at a makeshift camp next to a checkpoint in Kyiv. EPA

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  A member of the Territorial Defence Forces learns how to use a Javelin missile during a training session in Kyiv. EPA

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  Members of the Territorial Defence Forces learn how to give first aid during the training session. EPA

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  A woman rescued from the outskirts of Kyiv holds a plate of food after arriving at a triage point in the Ukrainian capital. AP

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  A woman cries after arriving at the triage point in Kyiv. AP

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  Civilian vehicles drive past a destroyed Russian tank as they leave Irpin. AP

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  Ukrainian servicemen stand in a foxhole in Irpin. AP

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  People gather on a platform to board a train leaving Odesa after the US said Russian troops are making preparations to attack the city. AFP

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  A Ukrainian woman looks for food in a bin in Odesa's city centre. AFP

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  Ukrainian servicemen look towards Russian positions outside the city of Brovary, east of Kyiv. AFP

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  A man walks past a shelled house at the village of Velyka Dymerka, east of Kyiv. AFP

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  A Ukrainian serviceman stands at a check point in the vilage of Velyka Dymerka east of Kyiv. AFP

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  A Ukrainian woman plays with her child in a temporary refugee shelter in Przemysl, Poland. Reuters

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  A woman waits outside a maternity and children's hospital damaged by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine. AP

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  A pregnant woman leaves the hospital after she was wounded when it was bombed. AP

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  A woman waits outside the damaged hospital in Mariupol. AP

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  A man wounded by shelling in Mariupol. AP

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  A car burns after the destruction of the children's hospital in Mariupol. Reuters

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  A mortuary worker wheels a stretcher used to move dead bodies before they are buried on the outskirts of Mariupol. AP

Live updates: follow the latest news on Russia-Ukraine

Ukraine is planning seven humanitarian corridors for civilians to leave cities besieged by Russian forces, including the southern port of Mariupol.

Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said people have already started leaving Sumy in the north-east under a local ceasefire.

At least 35,000 civilians evacuated besieged Ukrainian cities on Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

In a video address late on Wednesday, the Ukrainian leader said three humanitarian corridors had allowed residents to leave Sumy, Enerhodar and areas around Kyiv.

He said he hoped the evacuation would continue on Thursday with three more routes expected to open from Mariupol, Volnovakha in the south-east and Izium in eastern Ukraine.

Moscow and Kyiv agreed on Wednesday to open more corridors, offering a glimmer of hope for civilians trapped in bombarded regions.

A day earlier, more than 5,000 people were moved from Sumy, a city of 250,000 that lies close to the Russian border and the scene of heavy fighting.

But a number of attempted evacuations of Mariupol, which has been besieged by Russia for days, have failed, with Kyiv and Moscow blaming each other.

On Wednesday, a Russian strike destroyed a children's hospital in the city, triggering renewed global outrage two weeks into Moscow's invasion of its former Soviet neighbour.

Mariupol's mayor said more than 1,200 civilians have been killed in the siege, which has lasted more than a week.

The UN refugee agency UNHCR estimates the total number of people leaving Ukraine at 2.1 million to 2.2 million.