Russians prepare large-scale evacuation in Kherson

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Vladimir Saldo, chief of occupation of Kherson (at the annexation ceremony in Moscow): Evacuations planned

Photo: IMAGO/Maxim Blinov / IMAGO/ITAR-TASS

Under pressure from Ukrainian counter-offensives, the Russian occupiers are preparing to evacuate tens of thousands of civilians in the southern Ukrainian region of Cherson annexed by Moscow.

Among other things, the Russian regions of Krasnodar and Stavropol are ready to take in children and adults, wrote the head of the occupation of Kherson, Vladimir Saldo, on his Telegram channel on Saturday.

Another crew official, Kirill Stremusov, admitted on Russian state television that his administration was preparing for "a difficult time."

At the same time, with a view to the planned evacuations, he spoke of "recreation invitations" from Russian regions to children, parents and the elderly.

Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine on February 24.

Around seven months after the start of the war, the Ukrainian army has made major gains in its counter-offensive in recent weeks - particularly in the eastern areas of Kharkiv and Donetsk.

The Ukrainians also recently reported the successful recapture of several towns in Cherson in the south.

According to the leadership of the Ukrainian military forces fighting in the south of the country, 400 square kilometers of territory have been recaptured.

According to the Guardian, Oleksii Hromov from the Ukrainian General Staff spoke of 29 towns that had gone back to Ukraine since October 1.

feb/dpa