Iran asks nationals to leave Ukraine as clashes intensify

Iran has asked its nationals to leave Ukraine and scrap their travel plans to the country, citing intensified military confrontations there.

Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Friday, giving recommendations on their travel to or stay in Ukraine.

"Given the intensification of military conflicts and insecurity in Ukraine, all Iranian nationals are strongly recommended to refrain from traveling to this country," reads the short statement.

The statement also recommends that Iranian nationals residing in Ukraine leave the country, noting that they can keep contact with the Iranian embassy in Kyiv.

The announcement comes as the Ukrainian military is ramping up an offensive towards the city of Kherson.

According to reports, four people were killed when Ukrainian rocket artillery struck a ferry crossing in Kherson late on Thursday. This is according to Moscow-appointed deputy regional governor Kirill Stremousov.

Regional authorities have talked about plans to evacuate around 50,000-60,000 people over the next six days amid escalating pressure from a Ukrainian offensive.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that Ukrainian and Russian military forces are gearing up for heavy battles in the area.

Russian authorities in Kherson said on Thursday that they had relocated some 15,000 people.

SS