Russia forced to evacuate civilians from Kherson as Ukraine army makes gains

Residents in Russian-occupied Ukraine are being urgently evacuated as Ukraine pushes forward to retake the Kherson region.

Russia is evacuating residents of occupied Kherson as Kyiv pushes forward with its offensive to retake the southern Ukraine region.

It is a major blow for Moscow. Russia recently annexed Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia despite widespread condemnation from the international community and a “humiliating” UN vote.

Moscow said on Thursday it would help residents leave the Russian-occupied region after Kremlin-backed authorities there asked for aid following a Ukrainian counteroffensive.

“The government took the decision to organise assistance for the departure of residents of the (Kherson) region to other regions of the country,” Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said on state television.

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Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin. Picture: Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

“We will provide everyone with free accommodation and everything necessary,” he said.

Earlier on Thursday, the Moscow-installed head of Kherson — which the Kremlin says it has annexed — asked Russia to help with evacuations, in a sign that Kyiv’s counteroffensive is advancing.

“We suggested to all people of the Kherson region to, if they wish, leave to other regions to protect themselves from missile hits,” Vladimir Saldo said on Telegram.

“In addressing the leadership of the country (Russia), I ask you to help organise this work.” He added: “We, the people of the Kherson region, know that Russia does not abandon its own.”

A view of the village, located in the border of the Kherson region where control was taken by the Ukrainian forces. Picture: Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Mr Saldo said the region was being hit by an increasing amount of rockets causing “serious damage”. He said civilian infrastructure was being targeted.

Mr Saldo said those leaving would go to Crimea, a peninsula that Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, and southern Russian regions.

The call came a day after Kyiv said it had retaken five settlements in Kherson.

Last week Ukraine, which announced its counteroffensive in the south in August, said it had recaptured over 400 square kilometres in Kherson in less than a week.

Russia was “humiliated” after most of the world voted to condemn the annexations of regions in Ukraine. Picture: Mikhail METZEL/SPUTNIK/AFP

Kherson is one of the four regions in Ukraine that Moscow recently claimed to have annexed.

The city of Kherson, which lies near Crimea, was the first major Ukrainian city to fall to Russian forces after the Kremlin launched its attack on February 24.

‘Complete diplomatic defeat’

It’s another blow for Moscow after it suffered a “complete diplomatic defeat and humiliation” at the United Nations General Assembly.

An overwhelming majority of members voted to note that Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s territory was a violation of the UN Charter. The UN also condemned the referendums and declared Russia’s actions unlawful.

Humiliation at UN for Putin: 143 nations join Ukraine and US in condemning Russia’s illegal annexation of 4 territories. Only 4 failed dictators back Putin’s “big steal.” https://t.co/IJX0lD0Y7Y

— Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) October 13, 2022

Complete diplomatic defeat, humiliation, disregard, isolation for russia in UNGA. pic.twitter.com/KZDNjEfP7j

— Yevhen Perebyinis (@YPerebyinis) October 12, 2022

Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Yevhen Perebyinis called the vote a “humiliation” for Russia, which was left isolated — only receiving support from North Korea, Belarus, Nicaragua and Syria.

A number of nations abstained from the vote including China, India and Pakistan.

A soldier waves from an armoured personnel carrier heading to the front lines outside of Kramatorsk, Ukraine. Picture: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images

Disinformation campaign

Meanwhile, Russia is reportedly intensifying its disinformation campaign to falsely portray Ukraine as a terrorist state, the Institute for the Study of War reports.

Russian sources are making unverified claims that Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officers detained Ukrainian citizens for allegedly planning “terrorist attacks” in the Sverdlovsk, Moscow, and Bryansk oblasts on October 12.

Russian milbloggers reportedly amplified rhetoric accusing Ukraine of being a terrorist state and called for Russian authorities to enhance “counterintelligence” procedures and formally designate Ukraine as a terrorist state.

There are also claimed of preparations for alleged and subversive Ukrainian activity in Russia align with a wider attempt to set information conditions to respond to Ukrainian attempts to formally designate Russia a terrorist state.

France's President Emmanuel Macron. Picture: AFP

‘We do not want a World War’

French President Emmanuel Macron stated: “We do not want a World War” as he vowed to continue to support Ukraine.

“We are helping Ukraine to resist on its soil, never to attack Russia. Vladimir Putin must stop this war and respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity,” he said.

It comes after Russia’s Security Council warned of a “guaranteed escalation” if Ukraine is accepted into the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the security block of European nations and the Unites States which was set up after World War II to counter perceived military threats from Russia.

Alexander Venediktov, the deputy secretary of Russia’s Security Council, told the state-run TASS news agency that the superpower wouldn’t back down if the nation under siege was offered an official spot among Western powers.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky had earlier announced his nation was submitting an “accelerated” application to join the NATO military alliance, following Russia’s annexing of four territories in the country’s east.

“Kyiv is well aware that such a step would mean a guaranteed escalation to a World War Three,” Mr Venediktov said.

“Apparently, that‘s what they are counting on – to create informational noise and draw attention to themselves once again.”

- with Alex Blair and AFP

Originally published as Russia forced to evacuate civilians from Kherson as Ukraine army makes gains