More civilians flee Kherson as Ukrainian troops advance

Thousands of civilians have fled the Russian-occupied city of Kherson after warnings about a Ukrainian offensive to recapture the city.

Russian occupation authorities delivered the latest warning with renewed urgency, asking civilians to leave immediately because of what they called the tense military situation.

 “Due to the tense situation at the front, the increased danger of massive shelling of the city and the threat of terrorist attacks, all civilians must immediately leave the city and cross to the (east) bank of the Dnipro!” occupation authorities posted on Telegram.

“Take care of the safety of your family and friends! Do not forget documents, money, valuables and clothes,” the authorities added.

At Oleshky on the opposite bank of the Dnipro, people were seen arriving by riverboat from Kherson, loaded with boxes, bags and pets.

The battle for Kherson, which has been under Russian control for almost the whole of the eight-month war, appears to be reaching a critical juncture as advancing Ukrainian forces threaten to pin Russian troops along the Dnipro’s west bank.

Also Read: Ukraine Faces Power Cuts after Russian Strikes

The Russian-installed leader of the region said this week that Russia was planning to move an estimated 10,000 residents a day from Kherson and that Russia was preparing to take in residents in anticipation of Ukraine’s counterattack.

“I really didn’t want to (leave), I’m still at work,” one resident said. “We wanted to stay here in the region, but now we don’t know.”

Ukraine’s military said it was making gains as its forces moved south through the region, taking over at least two villages it said Russian troops had abandoned.

Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on Telegram: “Kherson region! Just a little bit more. Hang in there. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are at work.”

Kherson links Ukraine to the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.

Zainab Sa’id