The authorities established by Russia in the occupied Ukrainian province of Kherson (south) announced on Monday the end of the «organized evacuation» in the «eastern shore» of the region and stated that the remaining people who want to leave the area will have to do it by their own means.
«Today is the last day of the organized evacuation of the eastern bank of the Kherson region,» regional deputy governor Kiril Stremusov said in a message on his Telegram account. «Many of those who have not left Kherson have now begun to realize the seriousness of the situation and my warnings,» he said.
He has also stressed that the evacuees are being bused to the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, adding that there they «will be received by volunteers» and transported later to «other regions» of Russia.
«In other regions of Russia, residents of Kherson have temporary accommodation points. In addition, each evacuated resident of the Kherson region will receive a one-time payment in the amount of 100,000 rubles (about 1,635 euros) and a certificate of accommodation,» Stremusov concluded.
Russia completed a first phase of the evacuation at the end of October, although a few days later the pro-Russian authorities decided to extend the evacuation perimeter by an additional 15 kilometers. The Ukrainian army has continued to advance in the region, although it has warned of possible «tricks» by Moscow during the withdrawal.
