Ukraine has started the forced evacuation of around 1,000 children from areas near to the front line as Russia intensifies attacks.
Parents have been told they must move their families to safety from 31 settlements in the southern Kherson and eastern Donetsk regions.
Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Officials in the north-eastern Kharkiv region are also preparing to evacuate 275 children from 10 settlements.
Ukraine has ordered such evacuations before when fighting has intensified.
Officials say many children are living under near constant shelling and insist it’s now far too dangerous for them to remain at home.
Accompanied by police officers – with the power to force families to flee – they’re now going door to door to persuade parents to leave with their children.
Kyiv has promised families safe passage to safer parts of the country where they’ll be given free accommodation and places at schools and nurseries.
Oleksandr Tolokonnikov, who is the spokesman for the Kherson regional administration, explained that some families were still reluctant to leave their homes, despite the increased danger and discomfort of living under near constant enemy attack.
“There are different cases,” he said. “For example, when families barricade themselves inside. Of course the police don’t break doors. They talk to people. They show videos to people of what happens if the shell hits, with killed and injured children. It is more psychological work”.
source:bbc
