The Russian occupation administration of the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson expands the evacuation zone in view of the Ukrainian counter-offensive. According to the administration installed by Russia, civilians should now also leave a 15-kilometer-wide area along the east bank of the Dnieper. Earlier, Russia had ordered civilians to leave the west bank of the river.
Ukraine accuses Russia of forcing people to leave the evacuation zones and speaks of deportations and war crimes. Russia, on the other hand, says the population in the annexed regions should be protected from unconventional weapons that Ukraine may use. For example, the head of the Kherson administration appointed by Russia, Vladimir Saldo, said there was information that Ukraine was planning a massive rocket attack on the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, which could mean an imminent threat of flooding in the Kherson region.