In advance of an anticipated advance by Ukrainian troops mounting a counteroffensive to regain one of the first metropolitan areas Russia grabbed after invading the nation, Russian-installed authorities in Ukraine ordered all residents of the city of Kherson to leave "immediately" on Saturday.
The pro-Kremlin regional administration urged civilians to use boat crossings over a major river to move deeper into Russian-held territory in a post on the Telegram messaging service, citing the tense situation on the front and the threat of shelling as well as alleged plans for "terror attacks" by Kyiv.
Kherson has been in Russian hands since the early days of the nearly 8-month-long war in Ukraine. The city is the capital of a region of the same name, one of four that Russian President Vladimir Putin annexed last month and put under Russian martial law on Thursday.
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