The “separatist” leader of eastern Ukraine’s self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic” said rebel authorities [occupying Russian-backed forces – KP] will begin evacuating civilians to Russia on Feb. 18 as fears of a large-scale conflict grow.
“From today, a mass centralised departure of the population to the Russian Federation has been organised. Women, children and the elderly are subject to be evacuated first,” Pushilin said in a video message on the Telegram messaging service.
He accused Kyiv of planning an imminent attack on the pro-Moscow breakaway territories.
“The president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in the near future will give the order for (his) soldiers to go on the offensive,” he said.
He added that Russian authorities and the neighbouring southern Russian Rostov region were ready to accept the civilians and had prepared “host places” for them.
