The exiled mayor of the occupied Ukrainian town of Melitopol, Ivan Fyodorov, said there was “panic” in Melitopol, with long lines at petrol stations. "Parents and children, disabled people and hospital patients will be given priority and moved further away from the front line." He said residents of the north of the region, including the town of Enerhodar that hosts a major nuclear power station, are encouraged to leave for safer areas: Mr Balitsky said in a statement that Ukrainian forces intensified shelling of the area in recent days.
Yevgeny Balitsky, Russia-appointed head of the Zaporizhzhia region, announced an evacuation of residents from 18 towns close to the front line on Friday afternoon. Russian forces have announced the evacuation of occupied areas of the Zaporizhzhia region in southern Ukraine which lie in the path of an anticipated counter-offensive.