Luhansk Military Administration urges people to evacuate while possible as Russia prepares to attack

Svitlana Kizilova – Wednesday, 13 April 2022, 10:15

The Luhansk Regional Administration is urging the residents of the Luhansk region to evacuate as Russian troops are gathering forces and preparing for a new offensive.

Source: Serhiy Haidai, Head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, on Telegram

According to Haidai: "Evacuate while we still can help you do so. The Russians are gathering equipment near Rubizhne and in other areas. Tension rises each day, tension that could cost the lives of thousands of civilians. There is no time to waste – the buses are waiting at the designated assembly points.

Many residents of Rubizhne’s central neighbourhoods have simply not had enough time to escape. And now they have to endure harassment from [so-called] Kadyrovites (Chechen paramilitary group supporting the Russian Armed Forces - ed.), to bury their relatives and their neighbours in the middle of the residential neighbourhood; they are forced to travel to Russia, to its northern regions. So ensure your own safety while it is still possible – evacuate to the west of Ukraine and decide for yourselves where you want to sit out the escalation: in Lviv or Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk or Uzhhorod, or maybe even somewhere closer to home. All of the buses and trains we provide are free of charge."

Details: Haidai said that none of the 5 agreed humanitarian corridors will open on Wednesday, 13 April because Russian troops are breaking the ceasefire agreement all across the Luhansk region. However, as soon as an opportunity arises, residents of the Hirske municipality, as well as Popasna, Lysychansk, Rubizhne, and Sievierodonetsk will be evacuated.