60,000 civilians evacuated from rebel held areas.

 Russia's minister has said that over 60,000 civilians have been evacuated from rebel held areas in eastern Ukraine into Russia.

Alexander said that some 61,000 people have now crossed the border into Russia, nine trainloads of evacuees have been dispatched to parts of Russia.

Chupriyan was speaking from Russia's Rostov oblast, which borders Ukraine, where he has been dispatched by President Vladimir Putin to establish a series of refugee camps.

Separatist leaders in the self-declared people's republics of Donetsk and Lugansk have announced plans to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people into Russia amid reports that men of fighting age in the regions are being mobilised.

"I hope it won't be for long," he was cited as saying. "But safety is paramount."

The US has dismissed the evacuations as a cynical attempt to distract from the looming Russian invasion.