Melitopol mayor expects Russian provocations disguised as ‘evacuation’ in Zaporizhzhia region

The relevant statement was made by Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov during a nationwide telethon, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“There is an assumption that the occupiers are plotting provocations. Let’s look at the example of Tokmak, where they have been massively evacuating people from since yesterday. A bus or a convoy of buses departs every 20-30 minutes. But, only one-third of those travelling are civilians. The rest are soldiers in disguise. Mostly, these buses go to Berdiansk, where civilians are left, and the military are taken to Mariupol,” Fedorov told.

In his words, there are now huge queues for bread in Tokmak, and most filling stations have run out of gasoline. Stores are no longer receiving goods, and some of them have already shut down. Hospitals are closing in the city, and patients are discharged early.

Additionally, Russian occupiers are threatening the locals that power and water supply services will be interrupted in case of Ukraine’s counteroffensive.

Fedorov believes that Russian invaders are planning to use civilians as a living shield and carry out provocations.

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