SIMFEROPOL. Feb 18 (Interfax) - The authorities in Crimea are ready, if requested, to make a decision to accommodate evacuees from the self-proclaimed Donetsk (DPR) and Luhansk (LPR) People's Republics, Yefim Fiks, first deputy chairman of the Crimean State Council, told journalists on Friday.
"We have formed relations that are precisely friendly with the DPR and LPR, having been almost like brothers for eight years now. If need be, and should there be this need and a relevant request, the government of our republic will make a decision to help our brothers, sisters and their children and resolve issues relating to accommodation," Fiks said.
In theory, Donbas residents could be accommodated in holiday homes that are currently vacant.
Andrei Kozenko, the coordinator of the Russia-Donbas integration committee, has declined to comment, saying the matter was under discussion.
Meanwhile, an informed source in the Crimean government told Interfax that there were no plans to open accommodation centers for Donbas evacuees.
Earlier on Friday, it emerged that the DPR was moving its population to Russia due to a risk of Ukraine launching hostilities. The first to be evacuated are women, children and the elderly. They will be bussed to the Rostov region.