Vladimir Putin says civilians must be evacuated from Kherson war zone

Russia digs in against expected attempt by Ukraine to take key southern city, setting scene for possible ferocious battle

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Vladimir Putin has warned that civilians still living in the Ukrainian province of Kherson, which Russia declared in September it had annexed, must be evacuated" from the conflict zone.

Now, of course, those who live in Kherson should be removed from the zone of the most dangerous actions, because the civilian population should not suffer," the Russian president said during a meeting with pro-Kremlin activists.