Head of the Mykolaiv Oblast Administration urges Mykolayiv residents to be patient about returning home

IRYNA BALACHUK - WEDNESDAY, 1 JUNE 2022, 11:01

As Russian forces intensify shelling in Southern Ukraine, Vitaliy Kim, head of the Mykolaiv Oblast Administration, has urged residents of the Oblast and Mykolaiv to wait a few weeks before returning home.

Source: video message by Kim on Telegram

Quote from Kim: "I see that we are coming back to life – the prospects are there, people are glad, repairs are beginning to be made. We are also buying a lot of building materials to restore destroyed houses.

The city [Mykolaiv - ed.] is reviving, although we are all saying that there is no need [to return - ed.] yet – wait 2-3 weeks until the Ukrainian Armed Forces drive them [Russian forces - ed.] back. Many people are not waiting, but I echo the mayor in saying: those who have the opportunity, be patient, because at the moment we are in an active defence phase."

Details: He added that despite the fact that Russians have intensified shelling of the oblast and Mykolaiv, and that there are casualties, he will try to broadcast on air regularly because "people are asking to be supported, optimistically."

Kim went on to stress that the Russians are panicking now – they fear a counterattack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and accordingly, they are blowing up bridges, retreating, and taking with them what they have looted.