Ukraine's Zelensky orders mandatory evacuation of frontline Donetsk amid fierce fighting

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has ordered mandatory evacuation of the country’s eastern region of Donetsk amid fierce fighting with Russian forces.

Volodymyr Zelensky issued the call on Saturday, saying the hundreds of thousands of people still in combat zones in the larger Donbas region, which includes Donetsk and the neighboring Luhansk region, needed to leave. He added that residents who left would be given compensation.

Separately, Ukrainian media outlets quoted Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk as saying the evacuation needed to take place before winter begins since the region's natural gas supplies had been destroyed.

Back in 2014, Donetsk and its neighboring Luhansk region declared themselves independent republics, refusing to recognize Ukraine’s Western-backed government. The declaration of independence was ensued by a conflict between the region’s pro-Russian forces and the Ukrainian military.

Ordering a military operation in that region on February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the mission was aimed at “defending people who for eight years were suffering persecution and genocide by the Kiev regime.”

Russia slams 'outrageous' comments by Norwegian consul

Separately, Russia's Foreign Ministry denounced as "outrageous," the behavior of a Norwegian consul, who was caught on camera while slurring Russians at a hotel reception.

The woman, who was later identified as Elisabeth Ellingsen, the Norwegian consul in the Arctic city of Murmansk, is seen mouthing off as she is waiting for a room.

"I hate Russians... Just give me a room... I'm used to clean rooms, I'm from Scandinavia," she says in the footage.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, commented on the outrage by saying, "The Russian Foreign Ministry is considering a reaction to this outrageous act of hatred, nationalism, and xenophobia."

The Norwegian Foreign Ministry said it "deeply regretted" the incident.

"The sentiments expressed do not reflect Norwegian policy or the Norwegian attitude towards Russia and the Russian people," it said, adding that the ministry was dealing with the incident "through the appropriate channels."

Ukraine steps up drive to take south back from Russia with airstrikes

Ukraine has boosted its drive to retake Russian-controlled south with the help of airstrikes.

According to the website of the Norwegian embassy in Moscow, the Norwegian Consulate General in Murmansk has been temporarily closed since July 1. The Norwegian Foreign Ministry did not specify whether the incident took place before or after the temporary closure of the consulate.

Russia bars entry to 32 New Zealanders in sanctions response

Also on Saturday, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced countersanctions against 32 officials and journalists from New Zealand in reaction to the country’s "Russophobic agenda," referring to Wellington’s sanctions against Moscow over the military operation in Ukraine.

The list includes Shane Arndell, deputy chief of the naval forces, and Wellington mayor Andy Foster, among other officials.

The countersanctions bar the targeted individuals from entering Russia indefinitely, the ministry said.

"Taking into account that Wellington does not intend to abandon its anti-Russian course and continues to produce new restrictions [against Moscow], work on updating the 'black list' will continue," it added.

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