Vladimir Putin has called on Russian officials to forcibly evacuate residents of Russia-occupied Kherson to safety, but there was confusion in the city this evening, as a curfew appeared to be ordered and then rescinded.

"Those who still live in Kherson should certainly be removed from the area of the most dangerous hostilities because civilians should not suffer from shelling, from attacks, counter-attacks or something like that," Mr Putin told Russian news agencies in Moscow on Friday.

The Russian president's remarks following increasing reports from Kherson that the local puppet government is forcing local residents to leave the city for Crimea to the south-east.

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