Hight Tensions: DPR civilians evacuated to Russia via Donbass

HSMilitarycom: The head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin, made an emergency statement that due to the start of large-scale clashes in the Donbass, a mass evacuation of the civilian population to Russia has begun in the Donetsk People's Republic.

According to Pushilin, this is also due to the start of the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine expected within the next few days.

“From today, February 18, a mass centralized departure of the population to the Russian Federation has been organized. First of all, women, children and the elderly are subject to evacuation. We kindly ask you to listen and make the right decision. Temporary departure will save the life and health of you and your loved ones. By agreement with the leadership of the Russian Federation, places for the reception and accommodation of our citizens are ready in the Rostov Region. The evacuees will be provided with everything necessary. All conditions have been created for a quick transition at checkpoints, ” Denis Pushilin said in an emergency appeal to the citizens of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.

Over the past two days, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have inflicted hundreds of strikes on the territory of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics.

As a result, part of the positions of the first line of defense of the DPR and LPR were simply destroyed, although the Ukrainian troops did not go on the offensive.

There are no data on the dead and injured among the DPR and LPR militias, however, according to unofficial data, we can talk about dozens of dead.

It should be noted that the transfer of equipment from the self-proclaimed republics to the line of contact was also recorded.