Vladimir Saldo, the Moscow-installed head of Ukraine's southern Kherson region, which the Kremlin annexed, asked Russia to help evacuate civilians from the area, in a sign that a Ukrainian counteroffensive is advancing, according to AFP.

"The decision has been taken to set up a possibility for Kherson families to leave for other regions of the Russian Federation, for vacation and study purposes. In the first place, this concerns the inhabitants of the right side of the Dniro river. At the same time, we have suggested to all people of the Kherson region to leave for other regions, if they wish to protect themselves from the probable consequences of shelling," Saldo said.

"Every day, strikes hit the cities of the Kherson region: Kherson, Nova Kakhovka, Hola Prystan, Chornobaivka. These strikes deal serious damage, first and foremost to the people," he added.

"I'm asking the leadership of the country (Russia -ed) to help organize such a project. We, the people of the Kherson region, know for certain that Russia won't let its people down," he said.