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Kherson officials facilitate the crossing of the river from Russian-controlled territory

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KYIV (RockedBuzz via Reuters) – Officials in southern Ukraine’s Kherson region said on Saturday they would help citizens evacuate parts of Russian-occupied territory on the east bank of the Dnipro River amid fears of escalating fighting.

Yaroslav Yanushevych, the regional governor, said officials were temporarily lifting the crossing ban to allow Ukrainians living in villages across the river to cross the Dnipro during daylight hours and at a designated point.

“Evacuation is necessary due to possible escalation of hostilities in this area,” he wrote on messaging app Telegram.

Ukrainian troops liberated the city of Kherson, which sits on the west bank of the Dnipro, from Russian occupation on Nov. 11, but Moscow forces still control the rest of the region on the east bank.

Ukrainian officials say Russian forces have continued shelling Kherson and surrounding areas from there, killing civilians.

Yanushevych said the ban on crossing the river will be lifted until Monday.

(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk; Editing by Toby Chopra)