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New Commander Says Situation 'Tense' For Russian Forces In Ukraine, Announces Plans For Evacuation Of Kherson

October 18, 2022

The new commander of Russian forces in Ukraine has acknowledged difficulties for Russian troops on the ground.

"The situation in the area of the 'special military operation' can be described as tense," General Sergei Surovikin told the state-owned Rossia-24 television news channel in an interview on October 18.

"The enemy continually attempts to attack the positions of Russian troops," he said. "First of all, this concerns the Kupyansk, Lyman, and Mykolayiv-Kriviy Rih sectors."

Surovikin also said Russia was preparing to evacuate civilians from the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, which is occupied by Moscow and lies in one of four regions illegally annexed by Moscow three weeks ago.

"The Russian Army will above all ensure the safe evacuation of the population" of Kherson, Surovikin said in the interview, describing the situation as "very difficult."

The Russian-installed administrator of Kherson said it would be an "organized displacement" of civilians to the left bank of the Dnieper River.

Russia's Defense Ministry on October 8 named Surovikin as the new overall commander of Kremlin forces engaged in Ukraine.

The move marked the first official announcement of a single overall commander for all Russian forces fighting in Ukraine since its February 24 invasion of the country.

Based on reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-kherson- evacuation/32090210.html

Copyright (c) 2022. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.