“Often [a retirada] It is very difficult for people because they have to leave their homes and their lives,” pro-Russian deputy governor Kiril Stremousov said on Saturday.
The Moscow official’s statements come as the evacuation of civilians from Kherson, the only Ukrainian provincial capital captured by Russia since February, continues in full swing despite Ukraine’s advance.
The departure of the inhabitants of the city and other places of the province of the same name is taking place amid great uncertainty about what will happen in the coming days.
Russian sources do not disclose the military command’s plans, but rule out the possibility of handing over the territories annexed to Ukraine in September, despite signs of a possible withdrawal, which in turn are being received with great caution by Kiev.
Stremousov posted on Telegram that authorities are trying to convince Kherson residents of the need to withdraw so as not to endanger their safety.
“People find it difficult to accept the new reality, but we try to convince them. We assure them that this is all temporary and for their own good, it is to save lives,” he underlined.
He added that the withdrawal was “affected” by attacks by Ukrainian troops, including “against civilian houses”.
Pro-Russian officials and military “bloggers” highlighted “great activity” of artillery toward Kherson, something that presumably hadn’t happened until now.
In addition, Russian sources reported the shooting down of several missiles en route to the regional capital, where two projectiles landed, according to local emergency services, quoted by the Russian agency TASS.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called for the evacuation of civilians from Kherson “because the civilian population should not be affected by bombings, offensives, counter-offensives and other measures related to military operations”.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in turn, assured that Russian forces are trying to locate civilians who refuse to leave Kherson as part of the withdrawal.
According to Ukrainian military expert Oleg Zhdanov, the Russians will not leave Kherson without a “great battle”.
“They are building several defense lines around Kherson and preparing the city for street fighting,” the analyst told local media.
According to Zhdanov, Russian troops cannot be expected to withdraw on the basis of “a goodwill gesture”, as happened in the Kiev region last March.
At the same time, the expert believed that the destruction that Kherson will inevitably undergo will not be of the same magnitude as those that took place in Mariupol or Severodonetsk, taken by the Russians.
“We have many other ways to drive out the enemy”he said without giving further details.
Meanwhile, fighting continues on other fronts, mainly in the Donetsk region, which has been partially conquered by Russian forces.
Zelensky speaks of fierce fighting in the east
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today that “heavy fighting” is taking place in the towns of Bakhmut and Soledar in eastern Ukraine.
The president assured that Ukrainian troops “maintain their positions in this and some other areas of the Donetsk region”.
According to Valery Zaluzhny, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, Russian forces have tripled the intensity of the attacks in recent days.
Sergei Cherevaty, a representative of one of the military units of the Ukrainian army, said that the situation is very tense near Avdiivka, about 90 kilometers south of Bakhmut, and Vuhledar, where the Russians are trying to surround.
“The situation is difficult, but the soldiers are resisting. The strategic goal of the Russians is to conquer the entire Donbas, present [como vitória] to its population. That’s why they show tenacity in the Donetsk region,” said Cherevaty quoted by the Liga.net portal.
The fighting in the Donbas was also confirmed by the Moscow Defense Ministry, which said it had repulsed several Ukrainian attacks in the east and south.
Source: DN
