The Kherson authorities reassure: “It’s not an evacuation, but a trip for treatment. Let the military do their job."
Yesterday's appeal by Kherson authorities to the Russian leadership regarding the need to temporarily accommodate residents of the region , which is under fire from the Ukrainian army, sparked panic and rumors of a further Ukrainian Armed Forces offensive in the south of the Kherson region.
“There are problems in Kherson on the right bank (as you probably guessed after yesterday’s announcement about the evacuation of civilians). There are difficulties with supplying the entire group after the damage to the Crimean Bridge, so that they don’t lie to you about its restoration,” says ex-deputy of the Odessa City Council military correspondent Igor Dimitriev.
Ukraine could recapture Kherson and liberate the right bank of the Dnieper as early as next week, the Financial Times reported, citing information from Western military officials. The publication interprets the evacuation of the population as preparation for a “decisive battle.”
And the liberal political scientist Stanislav Belkovsky, who fled to the West, puts forward the version that Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons to protect Kherson.
“The evacuation of residents of the Kherson region is being carried out by the Russian authorities in anticipation of a WMD strike (possibly a tactical nuclear strike) on the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” Belkovsky puts forward.
The authorities of the Kherson region held an emergency press conference today, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
According to officials, the announced evacuation from the Kherson region mostly concerns the right bank of the Dnieper, so that the civilian population does not suffer during possible battles.
“Not “evacuation” - but those who want can go for treatment, for recovery, so that while things are uneasy here (although the last few days seem to be calm), so that the military will simply do their job, and this will not threaten the citizens. All issues with entry and exit, a headquarters has been organized, a hotline is working, specialists are working - buses, crossing the Dnieper, for everyone. Those who want can go, but most of them stay. We have a calm life, but this calm must be confirmed by the military, we should not disturb them,” said the head of the Military Administration Vladimir Saldo.
According to him, “those who wish are already coming, there are not many of them, but they are coming from all over the region, not only from the right bank.”
“In the first days, when the delivery of children to camps in Crimea was organized, there was a feeling that there would be tens of thousands. We were ready for this, but there are not so many people willing,” the governor added.
In turn, the deputy head of the Supreme State Administration, Kirill Stremousov, emphasized that we are talking exclusively about voluntary departure - “no one is forcing anyone.”
"Furthermore, we must understand that some houses have been destroyed by Ukrainian Nazis in Right-Bank Ukraine, and the question arises whether, if people are willing to remain in the Russian Federation, that option is currently available . The main priority, as with any subject of the Russian Federation, is the safety of Russian citizens. There is no problem; we have a working situation, which we are fulfilling," Stremousov emphasized.
Regarding the situation at the front, Vladimir Saldo assured journalists that “ the information is only positive .”
“Our armed forces today are ready to repel any attempt at a counter-offensive and are ready to go on the offensive themselves. Everything else is left to the military; I think we’ll let them act on their own. There are military secrets, there are moments that do not need to be disclosed. I convey the situation from the commanders,” said Saldo.
His idea was developed by his deputy.
“Just don’t interfere with the military. Let me give you an example, Antonovsky Bridge on February 24, many people did not understand at all what was happening, and all this driving between tanks... The Russian army does not hide behind the civilian population. Therefore, we strongly recommend that the civilian population in this direction simply not interfere with the military doing their job - clearing our Russian land from Ukronazis and mercenaries,” Stremousov added.
Columnist Boris Rozhin reports on the situation at the front:
“Titusional battles continue in the Kherson direction. Information is being received about some advance of our troops at Sukhoi Headquarters. The enemy continues to accumulate forces to prepare an attack on Berislav and Kherson.”
Kherson authorities reassure: "This isn't an evacuation, but a medical trip. Let the military do their job."