On 18 February 2022, the leader of the DNR, Denis Pushilin, announced that DNR inhabitants were to evacuate to Russia due to the threat of attack from Ukraine.[4] Later, Leonid Pasechnik, head of the LPR, did the same, and announced that the LNR civilian population was to be evacuated to Russia.[5] However, Ukraine denied the allegations of starting an offensive against the two republics.[6] The first train for the evacuation departed to Russia on 19 February.