KYIV, 07 April 2022, (TON): Ukraine urged its citizens in the east of the country to flee their homes before Russia began a major new offensive in the region.

Russian forces in northern Ukraine have been driven back after failing to capture the capital, Kyiv, but are now thought to be regrouping before a redeployment in Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk.

She said “Ukraine Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk urged people there to leave immediately and seek refuge in safer areas to the west. “It has to be done now because later people will be under fire and face the threat of death.”

It said “Ukraine’s military said Russian forces were continuing preparations for an eastern offensive to take full control of Donetsk and Luhansk. The main focus was Donetsk, where Russian troops were still trying to seize all of Mariupol.”

British military intelligence said “tens of thousands of people remain trapped in the southern port city without food, water or power. The humanitarian situation in the city is worsening.”

The Red Cross said its team had led a convoy of buses and private cars with more than 500 Mariupol residents to nearby Zaporizhzhia after the civilians fled on their own.