Russia is expanding the forced evacuation of Ukrainian citizens from occupied Kherson as its forces seek to hold the region.
Vladimir Saldo, the Russia-appointed head of Kherson, announced on October 31 that citizens will be evacuated from another seven districts.
Just three days ago, the Russian-installed officials announced that the evacuation process in the Kherson region had ended.
Russian occupation officials said on October 18 that they had planned to move up to 60,000 people out of the Kherson region as Ukrainian forces pushed forward.
Ukraine called the Kremlin’s actions ethnic cleansing and warned that the Ukrainian citizens would be sent to Russia to stem demographic decline.
Military analysts said Russia may fear that Ukrainian citizens in the Kherson region will try to supply information to the approaching Ukrainian forces about their locations.
Ukrainian forces are carrying out a counteroffensive to regain control over Kherson, a key city on the Dnieper River.
Kherson city was captured shortly after Russia's invasion began -- but in recent weeks Ukrainian forces have steadily recaptured territory on the west bank of the Dnieper. The front line is 30 kilometers way from the city, according to Ukrainian officials.
