More than 40,000 refugees have arrived in the Rostov region, south of Russia, from the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics to the east of Ukraine.

"More than 40,000 people who were forced to leave Ukraine arrived in Russia. Now they are placed in the Rostov region in temporary accommodations," the acting head of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, Alexander Chupriyan, told reporters on Sunday.

Chupriyan said that each temporary accommodation point has been supplied with hot food and communication has also been set up.

Some of the most intensive shelling by Kyiv forces during the recent months took place on the morning of February 17, while the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) and Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) announced a general mobilization in the two republics.

In a phone call with Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Crimea, Assistant to the President of the Donetsk Republic Victoria Talankina said that the head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin, has signed a decree on general mobilization in the Republic, urging nationals who are in reserve to come to the military commissariats.

On his account, Pushilin said, “I urge fellow countrymen who are in reserve to come to the military commissariats. Today I signed a decree on general mobilization."

Pushilin added that "large-scale shelling by Ukraine of the territories of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics is underway. Only in recent days, our army has prevented several attempts at terrorist attacks by the Ukrainian special services," stressing that the DPR will be able to contain Kyiv's assault.