Civilians should evacuate the Russian-controlled Ukrainian city of Kherson as soon as possible, as Ukrainian forces could launch an offensive at any time, a Russian official said, according to Reuters.

​Kyrylo Stremousov, deputy head of the State Administration of Ukraine, appointed by the Russians in Kherson, in his office with a portrait of Putin on the wallPhoto: STRINGER / AFP / Profimedia

In recent weeks, Russian forces in Kherson have been pushed back 20-30 km and risk being pinned down on the right or west bank of the Dnieper.

Ukrainian troops “will soon begin an offensive on the city of Kherson,” said Kyrylo Stremousov, deputy head of the Russian-imposed Kherson region, a territory partially controlled by Moscow.

“I ask you to take my words seriously and take them seriously: evacuation as soon as possible,” Stremousov said on Tuesday evening.

In a later post, he said that as of Wednesday, the situation on the front was stable, but that civilians should still leave for the left bank.

“Please move quickly to the left bank,” Stremousov said.

Civilians of Kherson received a message from the administration established by Russia asking them to leave the city, RIA reports.

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