2,000 private cars already leave Mariupol, another 2,000 on their way out of city - city council

According to Ukrinform, the Mariupol City Council reported this on Telegram.

"It is known that 2,000 cars left Mariupol as of 14:00. People are traveling along the route Mariupol-Manhush-Berdiansk-Tokmak-Vasylivka-Zaporizhia, where they can get the necessary help. Another 2,000 cars are at the exit from the city," the statement reads.

The city council also noted that for their personal safety people need to arrive in Vasylivka no later than 18:00, and those who do not have time need to find a safe place and spend the night in Berdiansk or Tokmak.

On February 24, Russian President Putin announced the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops simultaneously crossed Ukraine's borders from the north, the east and Crimea. They have been destroying cities, killing civilians, shelling and destroying key infrastructure and residential houses.