DONETSK. Feb 18 (Interfax) - Residents of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) are being evacuated to the Rostov region of Russia due to growing tensions in the region, DPR head Denis Pushilin said.
"The mass, centralized departure of the population to the Russian Federation has been organized starting today, February 18. Women, children and elderly people are to be evacuated first," Pushilin said in his address to DPR residents on Friday.
"Space to accommodate citizens is ready under an agreement with the Russian Federation. All necessities will be provided to those evacuated," he said.
Territorial defense staffs and heads of enterprises and establishments were tasked with organizing evacuation, he said.
"All conditions have been created for fast [border] crossing at checkpoints. Heads of enterprises and establishments must organize the departure of families of their employees. Territorial defense staffs must provide transport in order to evacuate civilians," the DPR head said.
The decision to evacuate residents of the DPR was made due to a potential offensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
All parties to the armed conflict in Donbas reported an exacerbation of the situation on the frontline on Thursday. The number of attacks increased considerably, people have been injured.