More than 250,000 people acted on an order to abandon their homes in eastern Ukraine as Russian forces rained down artillery fire on the region ahead of a predicted major new offensive in the area. The order was made by Luhansk Governor Serhiy Gadai as air-raid sirens were sounded in the embattled city, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Despite his order, Mr Gadia believes as many as 120,000 of the 400,000 residents stayed behind. He warned: "They (Russia) are amassing forces for an offensive and we see the number of shellings has increased."
UK Intelligence has stated that the south-east of Ukraine is now being targeted with the Russians' focus centred on Mariupol, Donbas and Mykolaiv. The UK Ministry of Defence said that the attacks were "supported by continued cruise missile launches into Ukraine by Russian naval forces".
10 million now displaced but UK has only taken in 1,200 refugees
An estimated 10 million people in Ukraine have now been displaced by the war since the start of Vladimir Putin's invasion, but British families hoping to welcome refugees into their homes continue to experience delays in that process due to visa requirements. Under the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme, only 1,200 refugees have arrived in the UK, which represents just a tenth of those who have been granted visas.
Ireland has welcomed more than 20,000 refugees into the country, Germany has taken in 300,000 and Poland 2.5 million over the past six-week period.
'Non-combatants are being disproportionately targeted'
A UK Defence Intelligence update has stated that in northern Ukraine there is evidence "of disproportionate targeting of non-combatants". The update also reports that the Russians continue to use Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and have attacked infrastructure targets with "a high risk of collateral harm to civilians".
It read: "Russia's departure from northern Ukraine leaves evidence of the disproportionate targeting of non-combatants, including the presence of mass graves, the fatal use of hostages as human shields and mining of civilian infrastructure. Russian forces continue to use IEDs to inflict casualties, lower morale, and restrict Ukrainian freedom of movement. Russian forces also continue to attack infrastructure targets with a high risk of collateral harm to civilians, including a nitrate acid tank at Rubizhne, Ukraine."
NATO plans a bigger military presence on its eastern borders
NATO is reportedly drawing up plans that would enable it to repel an invasion by Russia - and also address 'the rise of China' as part of its "strategic concept". The apparent expansion of NATO's aims were revealed by its Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, in an interview with The Telegraph.
He said that NATO was “in the midst of a very fundamental transformation” that will reflect “the long-term consequences” of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Under plans being worked up by its commanders, NATO's military presence on its eastern borders with Russia "would be transformed into a major force capable of taking on an invading army". Mr Stoltenberg added that NATO now already had 40,000 troops under its direct command along its eastern borders - a force that is nearly 10 times the size it was before Russia's invasion.
Mr Stoltenberg also said that China would be included in NATO’s 'strategic concept', as Beijing and Moscow appeared to be “working more and more closely together”.
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea
