Russian-controlled city in Zaporizhzhia "under fire," Russian official says

 The Russian-controlled city of Polohy, in the Zaporizhzhia region, is under fire by Ukrainian forces, a pro-Moscow official said on Monday.

“Polohy is under the fire of the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” Vladimir Rogoc, a member of the Russian-installed main council of the military-civilian administration of the Zaporizhzhia region, said Monday. 

“According to preliminary information, there are injured [people], as well as damage and destruction of civilian infrastructure,” he claimed.

Rogov said authorities had already been evacuating civilians from frontline areas.

“Due to the increased shelling of frontline areas of Zaporizhzhia region, a decision was made to temporarily relocate residents to safe areas. Continued attacks by the AFU (Armed Forces of Ukraine) are evidence that this decision was right,” he said.

More than 1,600 people, including 660 children, have been evacuated from Russian-occupied towns and cities near the front lines in Zaporizhzhia, according to Yevgeniy Balitskiy, the Russia-appointed acting head of the region.

Balitskiy claimed Sunday that the evacuees "have everything they need: food, a place to sleep, constant contact and consultation with specialists."

Russia controls much of the Zaporizhzhia region and it could be a target for Ukraine should it launch its heavily anticipated counteroffensive.