Moscow-backed separatist leaders in conflict-torn eastern Ukraine have announced they will evacuate civilians to Russia as fears of a major escalation of fighting grow.
Friday's announcement by the leaders of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) and Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) came after the rebels and the Ukrainian government exchanged fresh accusations of shelling and other ceasefire violations in the Donbas region.
Meanwhile, Western powers are continuing to express alarm over Moscow's massing of more than 100,000 troops around Ukraine's borders, Al Jazeera writes.
The United States and its allies warned that it is possible that Russia is trying to fabricate a pretext to invade Ukraine, deliberately igniting the conflict in Donbas.
Locals in Donetsk are sharing photos of the long lines at ATMs around town after the evacuation orders + sirens started sounding
(see: https://t.co/ybRCF3DTiS) pic.twitter.com/Vg6XcqiZiJ— Aric Toler (@AricToler) February 18, 2022
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