OUR Ukraine plans to increase the amount of space on its fronts war who will be forcibly evacuated, as they may be busy and there may be problems with heating in winter, the Deputy Prime Minister said today.

A mandatory evacuation campaign began in July from eastern Donetsk and was implemented this month. Ukrainian-controlled areas and cities in the eastern provinces are constantly bombarded by Russia and pro-Russian separatists.

“If they stay there, the world will suffer, especially children,” said Irina Veresuk, announcing on television the extension of the program. He explained that priority would be given to the removal of mothers with children and the elderly in some areas of the eastern part of Kharkov and Zaporozhye and Mykolaiv regions in the south.

“I’m not talking about entire areas, but in some places mandatory evacuation will be required, and we are preparing for this,” Veresuk added. He urged residents not to resist, explaining that they were threatened by the Russian occupation. “I know very well what the enemy can do to get people to cooperate. That is why I so often call for evacuation and urge people not to hope that the enemy will show them mercy and (…) respect international humanitarian law. This will not happen,” he added.

^{Source: APE-MEB, Reuters}