Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has said that efforts are being made to open exits in six different places to protect his citizens from Russian military attacks.
In a video message, he said about 35,000 people had been evacuated from areas around Sumi, Enerhodar, and Kyiv on Wednesday.
However, he noted that the number was much lower than expected. Three more routes are being paved on Thursday, Zelensky said.
At least three people were killed in an airstrike in the town of Okhtirka in the Sumi region on Wednesday night, Ukrainian officials said.
Among the dead are a 13-year-old boy and two women. The bomber struck shortly after midnight, according to Dmitry Zhivitsky, the region’s administrator. He said residential areas and a gas pipeline had been bombed.
According to Zhivistki, the exit route is expected to be open to the public from 9 a.m. local time. As many as 5,000 people were evacuated from the Sumi area on Wednesday. Sumi has been the target of Russian bombings for several days.
