Putin Faces New Failure as Kherson Leader Asks Moscow to Help Evacuate

The Russian-installed leader of Ukraine's Kherson region has asked the Russian government to help arrange the departure of residents from the area as Ukrainian forces continue their push to regain captured territory.

Vladimir Saldo made the appeal Thursday on his Telegram page, writing that cities in Kherson have repeatedly faced missile strikes in areas with a high concentration of civilians. Because of this, Kherson's occupation administration wanted to organize the potential travel of Kherson residents to parts of Russian territory "for recreation and study," or to "protect themselves from the consequences of missile strikes," Saldo wrote.

"Take your children and leave," he said. "Turning to the leadership of the country, I would like to ask you for help in organizing such work. We, residents of the Kherson region, of course, know that Russia does not abandon its own people, and Russia always lends a shoulder where it is difficult."

The departure of Kherson residents would be the latest blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin after a recent series of defeats in Russia's war against Ukraine. Successful Ukrainian counteroffensives in the Kherson, Kharkiv and Donbas regions have led to major losses affecting Russian-held territory, personnel and equipment. Notably, a departure of Kherson's residents would come shortly after Putin declared that Russia had annexed the region as well as three others. Ukraine and global leaders have called the moves illegal.

But Saldo asserted that Kherson was part of Russia, despite the international outcry.

"At the end of September, the Kherson region made its choice — in a referendum it confirmed its desire to join the Russian Federation, restore historical justice and restore what was lost in recent years," he wrote on Telegram.

The Russian-installed deputy head of Kherson, Kirill Stremousov, wrote on Telegram that the departure of Kherson's residents would not be an evacuation.

"The appeal of Governor Vladimir Saldo to the leadership of the Russian Federation with a request to help organize the departure of residents of the Kherson region for temporary stay and rest in other regions of the Russian Federation is not a call for evacuation," he wrote.

But Stremousov also said that alleged Ukrainian shelling in Kherson "has already taken many lives of civilians" and urged residents to "remain calm and not succumb to panic."

In a subsequent post, Stremousov wrote: "The government of the Russian Federation will help the residents of the Kherson region in accommodation on the territory of the Russian Federation."

Newsweek reached out to the Kremlin for comment and for confirmation that Saldo's request for Russian government aid had been granted.