Pro-Russian officials in the Kherson region, which Russia claims to have annexed, announced a large-scale evacuation starting this week. Authorities indicated that between 50,000 and 60,000 residents may be moved from the city to the left bank of the Dnieper River, with the plan disclosed on Russian state television before the Wednesday start.
According to the deputy governor, Vladimir Saldo, the relocation is expected to take about a week as preparations continue. Officials said the mass movement aims to reduce civilian exposure to potential attacks and disruptions tied to the ongoing conflict in the area.
The Kherson City Administration has already begun notifying residents by SMS about the evacuation, outlining the departure points for buses and emphasizing the danger posed by possible Ukrainian attacks on districts within the regional capital.
Saldo also warned that the Ukrainian defense could target the Nueva Kajovka hydroelectric dam, saying that a dam break or water release could raise water levels by as much as a meter in some places. He urged residents to relocate quickly in light of this risk.
On Tuesday, Saldo posted a Telegram message urging residents of four municipalities on the right bank of the Dnieper to move to the opposite bank as a precaution against a possible Ukrainian offensive on Kherson. He described the transfer as careful but necessary and noted that Bersilav, Belozersk, Snigirovsk, and Alexandrovsk would participate in the organized migration.
He explained that Russian forces were constructing fortifications to deter any attack and declared that civilians would have no role in battle zones. His message stressed that the military would carry out its duties and that civilians should comply with evacuation orders.
The deputy governor added that the evacuation would proceed gradually and free of charge, urging calm and caution and asking people not to give in to panic. He asserted that Kherson remained under the protection of Russian forces.
General Sergey Surovikin, who heads the so-called special military operation in Ukraine, acknowledged the situation in the region as difficult. He described today as particularly complex and said that Russian forces would act with care and punctuality, even if difficult choices are required, following his confirmation of command over Russian troops in Ukraine.
He accused Ukraine of deliberately striking infrastructure and residential areas in Kherson and of disrupting access to the Dnieper, which he claimed hinders food supply. Surovikin also criticized NATO for pressuring Ukrainian forces to launch operations in the Kherson direction without considering civilian costs.
Surovikin warned about alleged use of prohibited warfare methods by Kyiv and warned of the danger of missile attacks on the Kajovka hydroelectric dam or indiscriminate bombardment of Kherson. He argued that protecting civilian life and safety remained the primary mission of Russian troops, adding that such actions could damage the region’s critical infrastructure and cause many civilian casualties.
He stressed that a pre-announced safe exit for Kherson’s population would be a priority for Russian forces as the situation evolved.
Last week, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusainov stated that after Saldo’s appeal to support mass civilian evacuation, the government would offer refugees access to housing free of charge. Subsequently, the Russian government approved issuing certificates that would allow refugees to obtain housing anywhere in Russia.