Ukraine evacuates thousands from Donetsk ahead of winter

Ukraine says it has evacuated at least 3,000 people from the eastern region of Donetsk in the last six days, as part of compulsory evacuations ahead of winter.

The deputy head of the Ukrainian president's office, Kyrylo Timoshenko, said in a statement on Tuesday that among those evacuated were "almost 600 children and 1,400 women."

"Obligatory evacuations continue," he said.

Kiev launched compulsory evacuations from the eastern Donetsk region last week since it does not expect to be able to provide the residents with heat in the upcoming cold winter months. According to Timoshenko, around 1.3 million people were evacuated from Donetsk since Russia launched the special military operation in Ukraine in February 24.

"Now on the territory of the region, there is a population of 350,000, including 50,000 children," he said.

The eastern Donbass region, which is comprised of Donetsk and neighboring Luhansk province, is almost entirely controlled by Russian forces. At the beginning of July, Moscow said it had taken control all of Luhansk Oblast bordering Russia in southeastern Ukraine.

SS