Russia Urges Kherson Evacuation Amid Warnings Of Imminent Ukrainian Counteroffensive

Topline

Russian-installed authorities in Kherson ordered residents to “immediately” evacuate the area as Ukrainian forces close in on the eastern Ukrainian city—captured by Russian forces in the early days of the war—amid a larger counteroffensive into Russian-held regions.

Key Facts

Russian authorities urged residents to cross the Dnieper River deeper into Russian-controlled territory in a statement on Telegram.

Authorities pleaded with residents to “take care of the safety of your family and friends,” stating residents face a dangerous risk of “massive shelling” and “terrorist attacks” due to the “tense situation at the front.”

Russia has launched a barrage of airstrikes in recent weeks, targeting residential areas near the frontline as well as the capital Kyiv, which western leaders have condemned as war crimes.

Russian strikes have also targeted critical infrastructure, power plants and heating facilities, causing widespread power outages in several regions in an apparent bid to reduce Ukraine’s energy supplies as it heads into the winter.

The missile attacks come as Ukrainian forces have made major territorial gains into Russian-controlled territory, prompting Russian President Vladimir Putin to order a “partial mobilization” and tap into 300,000 reserve troops to fight in the war.

Earlier this week, Russian officials started moving civilians out of the region—one of four that Putin annexed last month and claimed to be Russia’s “forever”—Russian-installed governor Vladimir Saldo said, amid warnings a Ukrainian attack could be imminent, although Kyiv slammed the evacuation orders as a bid to forcibly remove Ukrainian citizens.

Key Background

Russian forces have suffered major ground setbacks since September, when Ukrainian troops reclaimed Kharkiv, as well as the towns of Kupyansk, Vovchansk and Balakliya. The Ukrainian military broke through the Russian frontline into the Kherson region last month, making their biggest counteroffensive since the Kremlin launched its invasion in February. Earlier this month, an explosion destroyed sections of a critical bridge connecting Crimea to Russia, disrupting traffic and disconnecting Putin’s military operation into the Crimean peninsula—although Ukraine did not take credit for the explosion. Access to Kherson, the Dnieper River and Ukraine’s Black Sea ports is economically crucial for the region; it’s how Ukraine can ship its grain—a critical export—to the rest of the world.

Contra

Russian officials announced Saturday its forces prevented a Ukrainian offensive into Kherson, as well as the Russian-controlled regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, Reuters reported. In a statement, the country’s Defense Ministry said “all attacks were repulsed” and the “enemy was pushed back to their initial positions.”

Tangent

Kherson is one of four regions in eastern and southern Ukraine where Putin declared martial law earlier this week. The order also applied to the eastern regions of Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia. Putin said in a televised statement the move would enhance economic stability in the area, although western officials warned it could prevent citizens from leaving, just as thousands of military-age Russians escaped the country following Putin’s announced military conscription last month. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, however, said Russia has no plans to close its borders.

Further Reading

Russian-installed authorities order evacuation of Kherson (Associated Press)

Putin Declares Martial Law In Russian-Occupied Ukrainian Territories (Forbes)