Since February 18, nearly 156,000 people from the “Donetsk People's Republic” and the “Luhansk People's Republic” were evacuated to Russia, and about 18,000 people have been evacuated in recent days from Ukraine through Russian checkpoints. This was reported to TASS by Russian law enforcement agencies, TASS reports.

"As of the morning of March 5, nearly 174,000 people, including more than 45,000 children, have crossed into the Russian Federation border. Nearly 156,000 [of them] are Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic residents, whose evacuation was announced on February 18," the source said.

He added that 18,000 more citizens of Russia, Ukraine, and some other countries had left Ukraine in recent days and entered Russia.

The Russian law enforcement agencies reported that the Donbas residents who have evacuated to Russia are already being received in 25 regions of Russia.

"There are more than 18,000 people, including more than 9,000 children, in 270 temporary shelters in 25 regions," added the interlocutor of TASS.