Preparing For Counterattack In Russian-Occupied Kherson, Ukrainian Authorities Ask Residents To Evacuate

JAKARTA - Ukraine's deputy prime minister urged civilians in the Russian-occupied southern region of Kherson to evacuate immediately on Sunday, as Ukraine's armed forces are preparing to counterattack there.

Ukraine lost control of most of the Kherson Black Sea region, including its eponymous capital, in the first weeks after Russia's invasion on February 24.

"Obviously there will be fighting, there will be artillery shelling and we, therefore, urge (people) to evacuate immediately," Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on national television.

However, she said, she could not say exactly when the counterattack would occur.

"I know for sure that there can't be women and children there, and they shouldn't be human shields."

Meanwhile, the Russian-founded Kherson authorities have said they want to hold a referendum on secession from Russia, but they have not set a date.

The Kremlin has previously said the future of the region must be determined by its inhabitants.

To note, the Kherson region including the city of Kherson, before the war had a population of nearly 300,000. However, after the Russian invasion, it is not known how many of the city's residents remained.