Separatist leader in eastern Ukraine calls on residents to evacuate to Russia
A separatist leader in eastern Ukraine has called on residents to evacuate to Russia.
Denis Pushilin, the head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), said in a statement that the recommendation to evacuate is due to the "sharp aggravation" of the military situation.
He accused Ukrainian forces of having amassed "troops and lethal weapons" along the line of contact and claimed that the army is now "in combat formation and ready to seize Donbas by force."
"The lives and health of our citizens may be endangered if the enemy shells populated areas of the Republic.
"For this reason, as from today, 18 February, a mass centralized evacuation of the population to the Russian Federation has been organised," he stated.
He added that the evacuations have been organised in coordination with Moscow with "reception and accommodation facilities for our citizens are ready in the Rostov region."
"All conditions have been created for a quick transition at the checkpoints," he continued.
Women, children and the elderly are to be the first to be evacuated.
Russia-backed separatists, who control parts of eastern Ukraine since the conflict erupted in 2014, and Ukrainian authorities have accused each other of bombings in recent days, which Western allies have said could be used as a pretext by Russia to invade its neighbour.
Moscow has deployed about 150,000 troops along its border with Ukraine and in neighbouring Belarus in recent weeks but insists it has no intention to invade.
It has demanded, however, that NATO guarantees Ukraine will never be allowed to join the security alliance. It has also requested the alliance withdraw some troops and weapons for several countries in eastern Ukraine, arguing they threaten its own security.
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