Live Updates From Ukraine: Donetsk Evacuation Of Civilians As Shelling By Ukrainian Forces Intensifies

Live Updates: Putin Instructs Acting Emergencies Minister to Organise Shelter for Donbass Refugees

Sputnik News

Within the past several days, the situation on the contact line between Ukraine and the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk (DPR and LPR) has become tenser, with the latter claiming Kiev had stepped up attacks.

The spike in tensions comes as Russia has begun to withdraw troops from the borders of Ukraine to their permanent deployment sites following military drills. Despite that, the US and its allies keep pushing the "invasion" narrative, insisting that Moscow, in fact, is sending more troops to the Ukrainian borders.

Since last November, the West has been fanning the tensions around Ukraine with consistent claims that Russia was planning to invade its neighbour, citing troop movements within Russia. Moscow has denied any plans to invade Ukraine, stressing that its own security is jeopardised by NATO's increasing presence near Russia's borders.

Donetsk People's Republic Starts Evacuation of Civilians as Shelling by Ukrainian Forces Intensifies

Sputnik News

Denis Pushilin, the head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), said on Friday that a mass evacuation of the population to Russia has been organised over the threat of Ukrainian invasion.

"When the enemy shelling the settlements of the republic, the life and health of our citizens may be endangered. Therefore, from today, February 18, a mass centralised evacuation of the population to the Russian Federation has been organised. First of all, women, children and the elderly will be evacuated," Pushilin said in a video address. 

The DPR head added that facilities that will host the population are ready in Russia’s Rostov region "as agreed with Russian authorities."

"The evacuees will be provided with everything they need. All conditions have been created at the checkpoints for a quick transition," Pushilin said.

The head of the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR), Leonid Pasechnik, has said that Ukrainian forces have been planning to break into the republicand urged residents to evacuate to Russia.

Breakaway Donetsk and Lugansk republics order evacuation

RT

The leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics told civilians on Friday to evacuate to Russia to avoid getting caught in the crossfire in case Ukraine starts an attack.

Donetsk People’s Republic head Denis Pushilin said in a statement that he expects military aggression by Ukrainian forces. The country’s troops have been bolstered with arms supplies from Western nations and “are now prepositioned for combat and ready to take Donbass by force,” Pushilin claimed in a statement, referring to his region and fellow breakaway entity, the Lugansk People’s Republic, by their collective name.

“That is why starting today, February 18, a mass evacuation of people to the Russian Federation has been organized,” he said, adding that vulnerable groups like women, children, and the elderly would be given priority.

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