Vladimir Putin has given his public approval to the Russian forces’ evacuation of civilians from the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Kherson.
The Ukrainian armed forces are steadily advancing on the city.
Putin on people :
Putin said that people living in dangerous areas should leave the region as soon as they can, as “the civilian population should not suffer.”
According to sources, about 70,000 residents have reportedly moved out of their homes. Kherson is the only major city that Russia has captured since they invaded their neighboring country, Ukraine, last February.
While speaking during the unity day celebrations in Moscow’s infamous Red Square, he said that those civilians at risk of shelling should be “removed.”
The Ukrainian government has accused Russia of removing Ukrainian civilians by force, which constitutes a war crime. These allegations were crushed by Moscow.
Russia’s missile and drone strikes on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, such as power sources and grounds, have caused heavy casualties and damages, leading to intensive power blackouts throughout the country.
Putin commented on this as a response to some allegations that many Russian soldiers themselves have left Kherson, which will be an indication of withdrawal.
The Russian official installed in the region of Kherson, Krilli Stremousov, told Russian media that they were highly likely to pull out of the region.
The Ukrainian officials claim that this is Russia’s tactic in order to trap the Ukrainian forces in dangerous areas.
The city was captured during the initial days of the invasion, and the Ukrainians are steadily recapturing their territories and have reached the city’s outskirts.
Civilians were told to leave the city during mid-October as the Russian army was going to defend the city against the Ukrainian armed forces.
The Russian commanders have said that they have already evacuated most of the civilians before the anticipated battle that can happen in the city.
Russia has already claimed the Ukrainian regions such as Kherson and three more as a part of the Russian Federation, although it does not fully control any of them. It held referendums to justify its claim, which was condemned by the international community.
Russia has also annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine into the Russian Federation back in 2014.
In his speech on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that about 318,000 men have been recruited into the Russian Army and are fully mobilised, exceeding his initial target of 300,000 men. From this group, 49,000 men are facing active combat.
In a statement released by the British Ministry of Defence, it is stated that the new recruits will only make a little impact on the battleground and that Russia cannot train them properly.
The Russian private mercenary group Wagner is said to have active fighters on the ground in Ukraine and has even recruited prisoners to fight in the war, promising to shorten their sentences.
The Wagner Group has been accused of human rights violations in the past in conflicts like Syria and Libya.
Putin has made changes to certain laws to recruit men to fight in Ukraine, such as allowing men who were punished for serious crimes and have been released to serve in the army. Many drug dealers and other convicted criminals are fighting the war in Ukraine.
