Russia-Ukraine: The administration instructed the residents of Luhansk to evacuate safely

 

Residents of the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk have been urged to evacuate on an emergency basis. The head of the regional administration, Serhiy Gaidai, called for the next week to be "difficult". Ukraine's local news agency UNIAN quoted the BBC as saying.

The main center of the Ukraine war is now the eastern part of the country. The Russian forces are now concentrating there. Russian officials say the main goal of their forces now is to ensure Donbas' full independence. That means Luhansk and Donetsk to ensure independence. Russia has already stepped up attacks in these areas. They are preparing for a bigger attack.

Serhiy Gaidai, head of the regional administration, warned locals in Luhansk. "The next week could be tough," he said. This may be the last time we have to save you. "

Russia launched an attack on Ukraine on February 24, declaring Ukraine's move to join the NATO alliance a threat to its security. Moscow called off the war on the condition that Russia recognizes the territory of Russia and the independent states of Donetsk and Luhansk. Russia's President Vladimir Putin recognized the two regions as independent states before the start of the campaign in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the BBC's Joey Inwood in Dnipro says airstrikes have become a regular occurrence across eastern Ukraine. From the northeastern town of Kharkiv to the village of Zolote in Donbas, alarm bells rang. Local health officials say Russian forces launched a new offensive in central Kharkiv yesterday. Five were killed and at least 13 were injured.

Massive rocket attacks are also taking place in and around the southern city of Mykolaiv. Mykolaiv's governor Vitaliy Kim told the BBC that Ukraine's forces had stopped advancing Russian forces on the port city of Odesa.