Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk says her country has agreed with Russia to establish an evacuation route from the eastern city of Mariupol for women, children and the elderly.

Vereshchuk made the announcement on Facebook on Wednesday. She named a place in the city for people to gather at 2 p.m. local time on the day and said those wishing to be evacuated will be transported to Zaporizhzhia.

Reuters news agency quoted Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boichenko as saying Ukraine plans to use 90 buses to evacuate about 6,000 people. He told Reuters that about 100,000 civilians remain in the city.

But there have been reports in Ukraine that the agreement is only preliminary. Observers say the plan could be changed as fierce fighting continues in Mariupol.