UNITED NATIONS, May 5./TASS/. The UN is planning a third operation to evacuate civilians from Mariupol and surrounding areas, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a meeting of the UN Security Council on Thursday.

"Our objective was to initially enable the safe evacuation of those civilians from the Azovstal plant and later the rest of the city, in any direction they choose, and to deliver humanitarian aid," Guterres said. "I am pleased to report on some measure of success," he stressed.

"A third operation is underway - but it is our policy not to speak about the details of any of them before they are completed to avoid undermining possible success," Guterres pointed out.