Kupiansk: Ukraine orders people to leave city liberated last year

Ukrainian authorities say necessary evacuation begins for households with youngsters and residents having restricted mobility.

A Ukrainian major battle tank advances on the highway close to Kupiansk on February 13 [File: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP]

Ukraine has ordered the necessary evacuation of susceptible residents from the front-line metropolis of Kupiansk and adjoining northeastern territories as fears mount Russia will retake the important thing metropolis and rail hub.

“Necessary evacuation of households with youngsters and residents with restricted mobility started in Kupiansk group,” the Kharkiv regional army administration mentioned on its web site on Friday.

“The choice was made … taking into consideration the unstable safety state of affairs resulting from fixed shelling of the territory of the group by Russian troops,” it added.

Ukraine made speedy beneficial properties within the northeastern Kharkiv area late final yr, driving deep into Russian strains, however its forces have been on the defensive for 3 months.

In September, Russian troops retreated from key cities within the Kharkiv area, together with Kupiansk.

The town has been an essential rail centre utilized by Russia because it took management after its February 24 invasion.

Bakhmut surrounded

Kupiansk, residence to about 27,000 folks earlier than the start of the battle, is close to the entrance line in jap Ukraine and locals concern it may very well be taken over once more.

Kharkiv area Governor Oleg Synegubov mentioned on Thursday Russia “shelled” a number of settlements within the area with artillery, a number of rocket launchers and mortars, together with town of Kupiansk.

In the meantime, Russian troops and mercenaries had been closing off on Friday the final entry routes to the besieged Ukrainian metropolis of Bakhmut, which is positioned about 130km (80 miles) southeast of Kharkiv.

The top of Russia’s Wagner personal military mentioned town, which has been blasted to ruins, was now virtually fully surrounded, with just one route left open for Ukraine’s troops.

Victory in Bakhmut, with a pre-war inhabitants of about 70,000, would give Russia the primary main prize of a expensive winter offensive after it referred to as up lots of of 1000's of reservists final yr.

It says it will be a stepping stone to capturing the encircling Donbas area, an essential battle intention.