One of the highest-ranking Russian-appointed officials in occupied Ukraine said that the Ukrainian army is about to try to take back the southern city of Kherson. He also told the people living there that they should leave for their own safety.
After Russian soldiers in the region were driven back by 20-30 km (13-20 miles) in the previous two weeks, Kirill Stremousov, deputy leader of the local Russia-backed administration, made a video appeal. They run the risk of being cornered against the western bank of Ukraine’s 2,200 km long Dnipro river.
Ukraine is waging significant counteroffensives in the east and south eight months after being invaded in an effort to seize as much ground as possible before winter.
The largest populated centre Moscow has taken control of in Ukraine since it began its “special military operation” on February 24 in Kherson. The city is located on land that President Vladimir Putin claims has officially been annexed by Russia, a development that Ukraine and the West do not recognise.
“We do not plan to surrender the city, we will stand until the last moment.”
According to TASS, the overall Russian-installed commander of the Kherson region stated that 50,000-60,000 people would be transported to Russia and the left bank of the Dnipro river during the next six days. Kherson had a pre-war population of roughly 280,000 individuals, but many have since emigrated.
“The Ukrainian side is building up forces for a large-scale offensive,” said Vladimir Saldo, the official. “Where the military operates, there is no place for civilians.”
