The Ukrainian presidency announced plans this Friday (29) an operation to remove civilians trapped at the Azovstal steelworks surrounded by Russian forces in Mariupol, southeast Ukraine.

“An operation to remove civilians from the factory is planned for today,” the Presidency said in a statement.

According to Kiev, hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians, including dozens of children, were intercepted at the large steelworks in Azovstal, along with the last fighters to resist Russian forces in the strategic port city.

The governor’s office estimates that at least 20,000 people died in the fighting in Mariupol.

According to Ukrainian authorities’ estimates, the UN has called for an “immediate” ceasefire in Mariupol to allow the evacuation of civilians trapped in the city of half a million inhabitants before the Russian invasion, which began on February 24.