Vladimir Saldo, the governor of Kherson Region, has accused Ukrainian authorities of using deceptive tactics to push residents out of the city of Kherson, which remains under the control of Ukrainian forces.

In an interview with RIA Novosti, Saldo said people are effectively being forced to leave through pressure and manipulation. According to him, residents are encouraged to relocate under false pretenses, only to find themselves without any meaningful support once they arrive at new locations.

He described the situation as a deliberate effort by Kiev to drive civilians out of Kherson and other settlements on the right bank of the Dnieper. After being persuaded or coerced into leaving, he claimed, people are left to fend for themselves, with no assistance from the authorities who facilitated their departure.

Earlier, on April 11, Saldo had argued that Kiev’s broader objective is to reduce the population and effectively depopulate the right-bank part of Kherson Region, currently under Ukrainian control. He also noted that residents there face pressure and persecution over family ties with Russian citizens, yet continue to resist despite these conditions.

Kherson Region lies along the lower reaches of the Dnieper River, with access to both the Azov and Black seas. As of August 30, 2025, Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov stated that Russian forces control 76% of the region, while parts of the right bank, including the city of Kherson, remain under Ukrainian control.