Video has emerged purporting to show the evacuation of people from a steel plant in the southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol on Sunday (May 1).

Video distributed by the far-right Azov Battalion shows international workers helping locals, including children, leave heavily damaged buildings. The evacuees are also seen on a bus. Some of the workers are wearing Red Cross and United Nations uniforms. The Ukrainian military are also thought to have been involved in the evacuation.

The Azovstal plant was said to be the last area of Mariupol not under Russian control.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted on Sunday: "Evacuation of civilians from Azovstal began. The 1st group of about 100 people is already heading to the controlled area. Tomorrow we’ll meet them in Zaporizhzhia. Grateful to our team! Now they, together with #UN, are working on the evacuation of other civilians from the plant."

The Azov Regiment provided unique footage of the rescue operation in Mariupol, Davyd Arakhamia said, thanking the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross for their support.

"Many have worked to make this possible. The work will continue until we save all our people," said the head of the Sluga Naroda party.

Ukrainian President Evacuation of civilians from Azovstal began. The 1st group of about 100 people is already heading to the controlled area. Tomorrow we’ll meet them in Zaporizhzhia. Grateful to our team! Now they, together with #UN, are working on the evacuation of other civilians from the plant.