(Reuters) – Occupation Russian authorities on Saturday called on civilians to leave the city of Kherson, citing a tense military situation amid advancing Ukrainian forces.
For several days, thousands of civilians have been fleeing Kherson across the Dnieper River in anticipation of an imminent offensive by Ukrainian forces to retake the city. The authorities have renewed their call to flee urgently.
“Due to the tense situation at the front, the increased risk of massive shelling of the city and the threat of terrorist attacks, all civilians must immediately leave the city and cross to the eastern bank of the Dnieper (river),” says a statement posted on the Telegram messaging app.
“Keep your family and friends safe! Don’t forget your papers, money, valuables and clothes,” the message continued.
The statement also invites the personnel of the pro-Russian administration of Kherson to leave. The population is asked to embark on boats to cross the river.
Eight months after being invaded, Ukraine is continuing major counter-offensives in the east and south of the country in an attempt to retake as much territory as possible before winter.
Kherson is the most populated area seized by Moscow as part of what it calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine since February 24. The city sits on territory that President Vladimir Putin says is now officially part of Russia, something Ukraine and the West do not recognize.
The new commander of the Russian army in Ukraine, Sergei Surovikin, said this week that the situation in Kherson was “already difficult” and that Russia did not rule out making difficult decisions “for this city.
(Reuters report, French version Matthieu Protard)
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