Ukraine orders evacuation of 12,000 civilians from eastern front as Russia steps up attacks
Ukrainian authorities have ordered the mandatory evacuation of nearly 12,000 civilians from 37 towns and villages in the eastof the country, as Russian forces step up efforts to break through the region’s front line.
The local military administration in Kupiansk district of Kharkiv province said residents must comply with the evacuation order or sign a document saying they would stay at their own risk.
On Wednesday, Ukraine’s deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar said that “the intensity of combat and enemy shelling is high” in the area.
The city of Kupiansk and the territories around it were under Russian occupation until September 2022, when Ukrainian forces conducted a rapid offensive operation that dislodged the Kremlin’s forces from nearly the entire Kharkiv region.
The retaking of those areas strengthened Kyiv’s arguments that its troops could deliver more stinging defeats to Russia with additional armament deliveries, which Western allies have provided.
But as Ukraine has pursued a slow-moving counteroffensive in recent weeks, Russian forces have struck back in some areas.
Ms Maliar said Russia “has formed an offensive group and is attempting to move forward” in the area, in an effort to advance on the Ukrainian-held city of Kupiansk, an important rail junction.
Russia has concentrated assault troops supported by tank units, aviation and artillery in the Kupiansk area, Ukraine National Guard spokesman Ruslan Muzychuk said on national television.
The Russians have formed eight “Storm-Z” detachments – made up of convicts released from prison acting under military commanders – for the push, and fighting in the area is “intense,” according to Oleksandr Syrskyi, the ground forces commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“Some positions are passed from hand to hand constantly,” he said. It was not possible to independently verify either side’s battlefield claims.
Ukrainian authorities have periodically ordered evacuations, especially of children, from areas where the fighting has intensified.
Officials have previously said the evacuations are necessary to save lives and enable the Ukrainian army to better defend towns from the Russian advance.
Millions of Ukrainian refugees left the country after Russia’s invasion started in February 2022, and millions more left their homes but stayed in Ukraine.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
