Ukrainian authorities have begun evacuating civilians from the newly liberated Kherson region and neighboring Mykolaiv province, fearing that damage to infrastructure they are too severe in the face of winter cold, it was reported on Monday.
The inhabitants of the two southern regions, victims of intense Russian bombing in recent months, have been instructed to do so move to safer areas in the west and center of the country, said Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk.
The government will provide them with “transportation, accommodation and medical care,” the official added.
The evacuations come more than a week after Ukraine retook Kherson and the surrounding area. The liberation of the area was a major victory for Ukraine on the battlefield, but the evacuations highlight the hardships suffered by the civilian population due to Russian bombing and the bombing of their infrastructure.
The threats
Russian-installed authorities in the Kherson region also on Monday called for an evacuation to the eastern bank of the Dnieper River, which remains under Russian control. Officials cited “a high level of military threat” in Kakhovskiy district asking the public to go to evacuation centers.
Russia has erected defensive barriers on the east bank of the Dnieper River, fearing Ukrainian forces will push further into the region.
Ever since Ukraine retook the city of Kherson just over a week ago, Russia has stepped up its attacks on infrastructure from the sky, causing widespread blackouts and leaving millions without heat, electricity or water in the cold of winter and as snow falls on the capital Kiev and other cities.
Power
Blackouts of four hours or more are expected in 15 regions of Ukraine on Monday, said Volodymyr Kudrytsky, head of the country’s electricity operator Ukrenergo. Over 40% of energy plants Those in Ukraine have been damaged by recent Russian attacks.
On Sunday, powerful explosions erupted in the Zaporizhia region, where Europe’s largest nuclear power plant is located. The International Atomic Energy Agency asked “urgent measures to avoid a nuclear accident” at the facility now occupied by the Russians.
Ukraine and Russia have blamed each other for shelling in the area, following several weeks of relative calm. Heavy fighting has erupted in the area since Russian forces occupied the nuclear power plant shortly after invading Ukraine, raising fears of a nuclear accident.
PA agency
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Source: Clarin
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.