Ukraine this Tuesday (2) began the evacuation of more than 200,000 people currently residing in Donetsk province, which is the main target of the invasion promoted by Russia.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk noted that “the mandatory evacuation of the Donetsk region has begun,” adding that the first train has already reached Kropyvnytsky, the administrative center of Kirovohrad province in central Ukraine.

“We evacuated women, children and the elderly, there were many people with reduced mobility. They were all welcomed and helped,” said the deputy prime minister, who also serves as the minister for the Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories.

According to the Ukrinform agency, 200,000 to 220,000 Donetsk residents are expected to be evacuated in the coming days. Withdrawal is “mandatory” but not mandatory according to Kiev.

Those who choose to stay will have to sign a document that takes responsibility for the decision.

Like neighboring Lugansk, Donetsk has been the scene of separatist conflicts since 2014 and is part of the ethnic Russian-majority Donbass region in eastern Ukraine, the main objective declared by Moscow is the conquest.

Russian troops and separatist militias have already captured almost 100% of Lugansk province and are now trying to advance towards Donetsk.