Ukraine authorities order mass evacuations from around devastated Kupiansk

(Reuters) -Local authorities in Ukraine ordered the evacuation of families from dozens of villages near the almost completely destroyed northeastern city of Kupiansk on Tuesday, citing the “deteriorating security situation” in an area that has come under heavy Russian attacks.

Oleh Syniehubov, governor of the northeastern Kharkiv region, wrote on Telegram that a total of 409 families with 601 children were told to leave 27 regions.

Another official in the affected area later told public broadcaster Suspilne that the list of places to be evacuated by families had been increased to 40.

Russian forces have been attacking for months and advancing on the city of Kupiansk, seen as a key target in their westward advance through central and eastern Ukraine in a war that has lasted more than 3.5 years.

The town was first captured by Russian forces in the first weeks of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but Kiev forces recaptured it later that year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said last week that Ukrainian forces were defending key frontline areas, including Kupiansk. He has also spoken in recent days about launching a counterattack near the Ukrainian town of Dobropillia further south.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told senior military officers last week that Moscow’s forces have a strategic advantage in front-line areas. Ukraine’s top military officer, Oleksander Syrskyi, estimated that the front line stretched more than 1,200 km (775 mi).

(Reporting by Ron Popeski; Editing by Sonali Paul)