UKRAINE, KHARKIV OBLAST, Oct 7 — Russian advance near Kruhliakivka in the Kupiansk district poses a threat to 4,000 residents on the left bank of the Oskil River, said Andrii Kanashevych, head of the Kupiansk District Military Administration, on Ukrainian TV.

Russians advance into Kharkiv Oblast from two sides: northern (called Kharkiv axis or Kharkiv direction; combat there started again after Russians launched a new offensive there on May 10, 2024) and southeastern (called Kupiansk axis or direction; Russian forces have been trying to reoccupy the region since Ukraine pushed them beyond the Oskil River during the Kharkiv counteroffensive in autumn 2022). 

“The security situation is getting more complicated, so we are ramping up the evacuation, even though we have been conducting it for a year. However, people are not leaving. That is why communication is becoming more urgent so that people understand that it is dangerous to be near the frontline,” said Andrii Kanashevych.

In his opinion, the situation on the left bank of the Oskil River is difficult. The settlements along the river, from Novooosynove to Kruhliakivka, are already very close to the frontline and are under constant shelling.

“Therefore, we call on the left bank to evacuate. In addition to the danger, it is getting colder, and heating is a problem, restoring electricity is a problem. So we urge people to leave, not to wait until there are no bridges [over the Oskil River — ed.],” Kanashevych said.

Oleh Ivanov, the manager of the department for protection and safety in the charity “Coordination humanitarian center”, said on September 27, that, on average, about 100 people are evacuated from the left bank of the Oskil River in Kharkiv Oblast every day, but that pace isn’t enough to evacuate all the people living there quickly.

UPD from Oct 8, 5:25 p.m.: Grammar mistake in the headline fixed.

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