Russian occupation forces in Dondas announced the evacuation of inhabitants to the Rostov region.

Militarnyi informs.

Denis Pushilin, leader of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, said that the evacuation has been coordinated with the Russian Federation.

As reported, in Rostov region places for reception of inhabitants from Donbas are already ready.

“As of today, February 18, a mass centralized departure of the population to the Russian Federation has been organized. Women, children and the elderly are to be evacuated first,” Pushilin said in a video message.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kGXbcn70ZU

Meanwhile, the leader of the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, Leonid Pasechnik, urged residents to leave and ordered his government to ensure evacuation to Russia.

The occupying authorities are trying to justify the decision to evacuate with statements about the upcoming military offensive from the Ukrainian army.

Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed the government to urgently ensure the payment of 10,000 rubles to each refugee arriving in the Rostov region from Donbass, press secretary of the head of state Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

“Also, the President of the Russian Federation instructed the Russian government to urgently ensure the payment of 10,000 rubles to each refugee arriving in the region from Donbass,” Peskov added.

Reaction of citizens

Panic broke out in Donetsk after the occupation authorities announced the urgent evacuation of the population to Russia due to the “threat of a military offensive by Ukrainian troops.” This was reported on social networks.

Moreover, residents queuing outside of ATMs and long lines of cars waiting at the gas stations. Sirens were also heard in Donetsk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v1Na-f-xxE

As reported, on February 17, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine officially informed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine do not plan any offensive operations or shelling of civilians. The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Lieutenant General Valerii Zaluzhnyi stated that the statements by the leaders of the occupation administrations about the alleged offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and forceful scenarios for the liberation of the temporarily occupied territories are not true.