Russian military forms 'human shields' of civilians – spokesperson of South OC Humeniuk

This was reported by Natalia Humeniuk, head of the Joint Press Center of the South Operational Command, during the telethon.

"The forced evacuation and forcing people to take Russian passports continues there, lists are being drawn up. They, having an unstable internal moral position themselves – because everyone is frightened of the very counteroffensive that they talk about a lot, they don't know where to expect it from – they are trying to fake caring for people," she said.

Also, according to her words, this "care" is manifested in gathering civilians and transporting them to the places where the occupiers plan to deploy their units and use them as human shields.

"This is a common practice. We have been observing it for a long time and always take it into account during combat work, because when we work on the left bank, the main thing for us is to avoid civilian casualties," assured Humeniuk.

She also added that the Russian units are constantly maneuvering and trying to find new locations, including observation posts, combat supplies, equipment and ammunition.

"But our work continues methodically," she said.

• On April 8, a morning report from the General Staff said that the enemy was preparing to evacuate the local population of the temporarily occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions to the Crimea peninsula.