Zelensky orders civilians in Donetsk region to be evacuated

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, appealed all civilians still living in the eastern part of the Donnetsk region under Ukrainian control to evacuate. During an address late last night, Zelensky warned of an intensification of fighting.

The more people leave the Donnetsk region now, the fewer the Russian Army will have time to kill,” he said.

The region has seen serious clashes amid a slow advance by Russian forces, which already control large parts of it.

“We will use all available opportunities to save as many lives as possible and to limit Russian terror as possible”, the president added.

It is not the first time Ukrainian authorities have told people to leave this area. Between 200,000 and 220,000 civilians still live in the uninvasive Donnetsk area, according to estimates by Ukrainian authorities.

A government evacuation notice warned that next winter would exacerbate the situation, especially for children.

“They must be evacuated, you cannot put at deadly risk in winter without heating, energy, without the ability to keep warm”, said Kiev's Minister of Reintegration of provisional Powerd Territors.

The president's intervention comes after Russia invited UN and Red Cross officials to investigate the death of 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war in another part of the Donetsk region held by Russian-backed separatists.

The troops were killed in unclear circumstances during an attack on a prison in Olenivka, with both sides blaming each other.

Speaking Saturday evening, Russian defence officials said Moscow would welcome a <x0 target” investigation for the incident.