Ukrainian police evacuate 31 Lysychansk residents

Ukrainian police evacuate 31 Lysychansk residents

Ukraine's police have taken to safety 31 residents - including 13 children - of Ukraine's eastern city of Lysychansk, in what the top regional official describes as one of the most "difficult evacuations" in recent days, Qazet.az reports.

Luhansk regional head Serhiy Haidai says the officers were initially sent to evacuate seven people, who had previously agreed to leave but ended up picking up 31 residents.

Haidai also says that one vehicle that delivered humanitarian aid to Lysychansk was damaged because of the fighting in the area.

Russian forces have been slowly advancing on the twin cities of Lysychansk and Severodonetsk. Local officials say two-thirds of Severodonetsk is now surrounded.