Ukraine on Thursday ordered the evacuation of about 12,000 civilians from 37 cities and towns in the Kharkiv region, in the country’s northeastern region, after Russia stepped up its attacks in the area to try to retake territory it once held in controlled the country. invasion and that Kiev recovered in September.

“Given the difficult security situation and the increasing number of bombings by Russian terrorist forces in the Kupiansk community, you have the opportunity to retreat to safety.” said the administration of this city. “Do not neglect your safety and that of your loved ones”, they added, asking in particular the elderly, children and the sick to leave. The idea is to evacuate residents to the city of Kharkiv, 90 kilometers away, with the option of moving to safer areas.

The withdrawal order comes after the Russian Defense Ministry announced that the army has “improved its position at the front near the town of Kupiansk”, after announcing progress earlier this week. Moscow has concentrated its forces in the region, with the support of tanks, aviation and artillery, Ukrainian National Guard spokesman Ruslan Muzychuk said.

“The situation remains difficult but under control,” said spokesman for the region’s armed forces, Sergiy Cherevaty, while another official said the evacuation began on Wednesday when the order to that effect was signed. Local residents can refuse to leave the city, but they must sign a waiver with the authorities – which does not rule out the children being forced to leave if the situation worsens.

bombings

A Russian bombing of a civilian building in the city of Zaporizhya has killed at least one person and injured nine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed. The building had already been hit in another bombing the day before, killing two and injuring seven.

In Russia, the governor of the Briansk region, next to the border with Ukraine, Alexandre Bogomaz, announced that two people were killed and two others injured in a Ukrainian bombing. “Unfortunately, another man died from injuries sustained in the bombing of the village of Tchaussy,” Bogomaz said on Telegram. “At the moment there are two dead civilians as a result of the actions of the Ukrainian armed forces,” he stressed.

Moscow, meanwhile, announced it had shot down 11 Ukrainian drones approaching Crimea (which Russia illegally annexed in 2014) and two others destined for the capital.

with authorities