Kyiv to Evacuate Residents from Donbas, Says Deputy Prime Minister

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk has announced that the government intends to carry out the mandatory evacuation of residents from the areas of Donbas under Kyiv's control.

She clarified that there is a lack of gas supply and adequate electricity in these regions. “Article 33 of the Civil Protection Code stipulates the mandatory evacuation under such conditions. I believe it is the responsibility of every adult member of the family. There are 52,000 children in Donetsk region who need to be evacuated; they cannot be exposed to mortal danger in winter without heat, light, or the possibility of heating,” her remarks were quoted by UNIAN on Saturday.

The Prime Minister added that “if a citizen refuses the mandatory evacuation, they must sign that they understand and are aware of all consequences and take personal responsibility for their life.”

On Thursday, Vereshchuk had announced the establishment of a headquarters for the evacuation of people from the Donbas region and urged residents to relocate to the central and western parts of the country.