Haidai: 70,000 civilians remaining in Luhansk region

The evacuation of civilians from Luhansk region will be continued even if a ceasefire regime is not established.

Serhiy Haidai, the head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, said this during a nationwide telethon on Ukrainian TV channels, Ukrinform reports.

The governor assured that the region is provided with evacuation buses and fuel, adding about 20% of the population is remaining in Luhansk region, compared with the figures before February 24.

"The total number was about 300,000 people, now - up to 70,000. Those people are remaining who afraid to lose their property. We try to persuade them, but let's not confuse: it is evacuation, not deportation, deportation is carried out by orcs. Unfortunately, the main motivation for people - when shells and mines hit their shelters, houses or when they see dead neighbors in the morning,” Haidai said.

In addition, in a Telegram post, the head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration said that attempts will be made today to evacuate people from Rubizhne, Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk, Popasna and Hirska communities.

According to him, the expected escalation of the war in the east has already begun. In Luhansk region, in particular, the situation is quite difficult, but Ukrainian defenders are holding the defense line, repulsing the offensive in Rubizhne, Popasna, where the enemy has significant losses.

As Ukrinform reported, Luhansk region is constantly under attack by Russian forces. Many residential buildings, infrastructure, educational institutions have been destroyed in the region. All region’s hospitals have been damaged.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops have been shelling and destroying key infrastructure facilities, conducting massive shelling of residential areas of Ukrainian cities and villages using artillery, multiple rocket launchers and ballistic missiles.

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