Russian occupation authorities urge civilians to leave Kherson “immediately”

Russian occupation authorities in the Ukrainian city of Kherson told civilians on Saturday that they should leave immediately because of what they called a tense military situation as Ukrainian forces advance.

Thousands of civilians have been pouring out across the Dnipro River for days after warnings of an impending Ukrainian offensive to recapture the city, but Saturday’s warning was delivered with renewed urgency.

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

“Take care of the safety of your family and friends! Don’t forget documents, money, valuables and clothes.”

The statement said all departments and ministries of the Russian administration installed in Kherson must also leave. He urged people to board river boats across the Dnipro.

One of the most important battles of the eight-month war is coming to a head near Kherson, as Ukrainian forces advance along the west bank of the Dnipro, aiming to recapture the city and encircle thousands of Russian troops.

Ukraine has imposed an information blackout from the Kherson front, but Russian commander General Sergei Surovikin said this week that the situation in Kherson “is already difficult” and that Russia “is not ruling out difficult decisions” there.

In a briefing on Saturday, the Russian Defense Ministry said its forces had repelled a Ukrainian attempt to break through its line of control in the Kherson region. Reuters could not independently confirm the battlefield claims.

Kherson is the only provincial capital that Russia has captured intact and maintained since the February 24 invasion. The Kherson region was one of four that President Vladimir Putin said last month that Moscow was claiming “forever” as its own territory.

Putin said he is prepared to resort to nuclear weapons if necessary to defend what Russia claims as its own land. The declared annexation was condemned as illegal by Ukraine, its allies and the United Nations General Assembly.

Source: CNN Brasil

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