Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that civilians should be evacuated from Kherson, in southern Ukraine, which has been under Moscow’s control practically since the conflict began.
“Those living in Kherson should be removed from the areas with the most dangerous actions, because the civilian population should not suffer,” Putin, quoted by the RIA news agency, told young volunteers from the occupied Ukrainian territories at a ceremony in Red Square. . in Moscow, marking National Unity Day.
Putin’s call comes as Russian troops face a counter-offensive by Kiev troops.
For the Russian president, “the civilian population should not suffer from the bombing as a result of offensive, counter-offensive and other measures,” he emphasized during a conversation with Russian volunteers in the Kherson region.
Moscow, it is recalled, has claimed annexation of the Kherson region since late September.
On Tuesday, Russian authorities controlling Kherson announced that they had begun the evacuation of “up to 70,000 people” who are now on the left bank of the Dnieper River.
Last week, Russian occupation forces announced that 70,000 civilians had left their homes in the west, on the right bank of the river and closer to the front line.
Source: DN
