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| Kherson: Russia to evacuate civilians from occupied region as Ukraine advances | Kherson: Russia to evacuate civilians from occupied region as Ukraine advances |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Kherson is Ukraine's only regional capital seized by Russia since it launched its invasion on 24 February | Kherson is Ukraine's only regional capital seized by Russia since it launched its invasion on 24 February |
| The Russian-installed leader of Ukraine's southern Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, has called on civilians to evacuate - citing daily rocket attacks by advancing Ukrainian forces. | The Russian-installed leader of Ukraine's southern Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, has called on civilians to evacuate - citing daily rocket attacks by advancing Ukrainian forces. |
| He urged them to "save themselves" by going to Russia for "leisure and study", and asked for Moscow's help. | He urged them to "save themselves" by going to Russia for "leisure and study", and asked for Moscow's help. |
| His call was later backed up by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin in a message on state television. | His call was later backed up by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin in a message on state television. |
| Ukraine rejects accusations that it targets its own civilians. | Ukraine rejects accusations that it targets its own civilians. |
| Its troops have recently retaken some areas of north-western Kherson, closing in on the regional capital, Kherson city. | Its troops have recently retaken some areas of north-western Kherson, closing in on the regional capital, Kherson city. |
| "The government took the decision to organise assistance for the departure of residents of the [Kherson] region to other regions of the country," said Mr Khusnullin, who has special responsibility for southern Russia and Crimea. | "The government took the decision to organise assistance for the departure of residents of the [Kherson] region to other regions of the country," said Mr Khusnullin, who has special responsibility for southern Russia and Crimea. |
| "We will provide everyone with free accommodation and everything necessary." | "We will provide everyone with free accommodation and everything necessary." |
| The first group of people from Kherson would arrive on Friday in Russia's Rostov region, said its governor Vasily Golubev according to Russian state news agency, Tass. | The first group of people from Kherson would arrive on Friday in Russia's Rostov region, said its governor Vasily Golubev according to Russian state news agency, Tass. |
| "The Rostov region will accept and accommodate everyone who wants to come to us from the Kherson region," he added. | "The Rostov region will accept and accommodate everyone who wants to come to us from the Kherson region," he added. |
| Among other weaponry, Kyiv has been using US-supplied Himars rocket systems to great effect. | Among other weaponry, Kyiv has been using US-supplied Himars rocket systems to great effect. |
| They have targeted key Russian-held military targets and threatened to cut off the bulk of the occupying forces on the west bank of the Dnieper river (known as Dnipro in Ukraine). | They have targeted key Russian-held military targets and threatened to cut off the bulk of the occupying forces on the west bank of the Dnieper river (known as Dnipro in Ukraine). |
| Kherson is the only regional capital seized by Russian forces since Moscow's invasion began on 24 February. | Kherson is the only regional capital seized by Russian forces since Moscow's invasion began on 24 February. |
| Ukraine's military has been tight-lipped about its troop advances in the key region that borders Crimea - the southern Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014. | Ukraine's military has been tight-lipped about its troop advances in the key region that borders Crimea - the southern Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014. |
| In other major developments on Thursday: | In other major developments on Thursday: |
| All of Ukraine - with the exception of Crimea - was for some time under air raid alert, and Russian missile strikes were reported on energy and military targets in the Kyiv region and Lviv, in the west | All of Ukraine - with the exception of Crimea - was for some time under air raid alert, and Russian missile strikes were reported on energy and military targets in the Kyiv region and Lviv, in the west |
| Two people were killed in shelling in the southern city of Mykolaiv, and dramatic footage showed a young boy being rescued from the rubble of a destroyed house, although he later died, officials said | Two people were killed in shelling in the southern city of Mykolaiv, and dramatic footage showed a young boy being rescued from the rubble of a destroyed house, although he later died, officials said |
| Both Kyiv and Moscow confirmed that 20 Ukrainian service personnel were exchanged for 20 Russian soldiers - in the latest such swap | Both Kyiv and Moscow confirmed that 20 Ukrainian service personnel were exchanged for 20 Russian soldiers - in the latest such swap |
| Russia accused Ukraine of hitting a residential building in the Russian border city of Belgorod | Russia accused Ukraine of hitting a residential building in the Russian border city of Belgorod |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin met his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and proposed building a gas hub in Turkey as an alternative supply route to Europe following problems with the Nord Stream pipelines | Russian President Vladimir Putin met his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and proposed building a gas hub in Turkey as an alternative supply route to Europe following problems with the Nord Stream pipelines |
| Ukraine in maps: Where have Russia's missiles hit? | Ukraine in maps: Where have Russia's missiles hit? |
| Speaking on Thursday, Mr Saldo said many towns in the region - including the two major cities of Kherson and Nova Kakhovka - were now under daily rocket attacks by Ukrainian troops. | Speaking on Thursday, Mr Saldo said many towns in the region - including the two major cities of Kherson and Nova Kakhovka - were now under daily rocket attacks by Ukrainian troops. |
| "Such strikes are causing serious damage," he said, urging residents across the whole region - and especially those on the west bank of the Dnieper river - to evacuate to Russia or Crimea. | "Such strikes are causing serious damage," he said, urging residents across the whole region - and especially those on the west bank of the Dnieper river - to evacuate to Russia or Crimea. |
| And he appealed to the government in Moscow to help organise the process. "Russia is not abandoning its people," he stressed, using a popular saying. | And he appealed to the government in Moscow to help organise the process. "Russia is not abandoning its people," he stressed, using a popular saying. |
| Earlier this month, President Putin declared the annexation of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions in Ukraine's south, as well as Donetsk and Luhansk in the east. | Earlier this month, President Putin declared the annexation of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions in Ukraine's south, as well as Donetsk and Luhansk in the east. |
| Ukraine and its Western allies condemned the move, saying it had no legal power. The Kremlin does not fully control any of the four regions. | Ukraine and its Western allies condemned the move, saying it had no legal power. The Kremlin does not fully control any of the four regions. |
| On Wednesday, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn the Russian annexation attempt. | On Wednesday, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn the Russian annexation attempt. |
| The assembly's resolution was supported by 143 countries, while 35 states - including China and India - abstained. As well as Russia, four countries rejected the resolution - Belarus, North Korea, Syria and Nicaragua. | The assembly's resolution was supported by 143 countries, while 35 states - including China and India - abstained. As well as Russia, four countries rejected the resolution - Belarus, North Korea, Syria and Nicaragua. |
| Although symbolic, it was the highest number of votes against Russia since the invasion. | Although symbolic, it was the highest number of votes against Russia since the invasion. |