A Russian official in the occupied part of the Kharkiv region, Vitaly Ganchev, recommended that all residents of the area be evacuated to Russia "in order to save their lives," according to the Russian state news agency TASS, as reported by Reuters.
Ganchev said that the official representatives are ready to provide the refugees with food, heating and medical care, adds TASS.
Russia's defense ministry said it was withdrawing troops from Izyum and Balaklia - key military supply hubs in the Kharkiv region, while Ukraine says it is making rapid progress.
Ganchev said earlier on Friday that civilians were being evacuated from several towns that had come under heavy pressure after Russian defense lines were breached.
Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the Belgorod region in neighboring Russia, said on Telegram that refugees at the Logachevka border crossing are provided with mobile catering and warm places, as well as medical assistance in vehicles waiting in line to enter Russia.
Secretary of the General Council of United Russia Andrey Turchak said that a volunteer corps had been deployed to help the refugees and reported that more than 400 vehicles were at the border.
RIA Agency quoted the Ministry of Defense as stating that "artillery crews of the Izyum-Balakali group showed courage in intense battles with Ukrainian units."
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