ROSTOV-ON-DON, June 25 – RIA Novosti, Yulia Nasulina. Regional Governor Vasily Golubev told RIA Novosti that more than 1.6 million residents of Donbass and Ukraine have crossed the border of the Russian Federation in the Rostov region since mid-February.

According to the governor, the number of incoming citizens does not change significantly. Every day from 12 to 20 thousand people cross the border of the region, and then go to various regions of Russia.

The large-scale evacuation of the civilian population began from the Donbass republics on the backdrop of an escalation in mid-February. Later, Russia recognized the independence of the DPR and LPR and launched a special military operation on February 24 to demilitarize and navy Ukraine.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Armed Forces attack only the military infrastructure and Ukrainian troops, and as of March 25 they have completed the main tasks of the first stage – they have significantly reduced the combat potential of Ukraine. The main goal in the Russian military department was called the liberation of Donbass.