Kharkiv Regional Military Administration head Oleh Syniehubov and newly appointed Interior Minister Ivan Vyhivsky held a joint meeting on Friday, Aug. 7, addressing civil protection, shelling response, and the defense of critical infrastructure in frontline regions. According to Syniehubov’s statement, the meeting also included Petro Tokar, the head of Kharkiv region’s National Police, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SES) regional head Artem Astakhov, Members of Parliament Viktoriia Kinzburska, alongside other representatives of Interior Ministry units and military personnel.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “The main priority is people’s safety and ensuring access to basic service,” Syniehubov said, adding that “we must be ready for any development of events.” Mass evacuations continue Since the beginning of the year, Russian forces have reportedly struck the Kharkiv region more than 5,900 times, with nearly half of all damaged buildings being residential structures. “Thirteen communities in the Kharkiv region are located in the combat zone,” said Vyhivsky. According to regional authorities, National Police units, together with SES personnel and volunteers, have evacuated and transported more than 16,000 residents to transit points so far this year, including over 1,600 children. Russia continues to progressively escalate the intensity and reach of attacks on civilian infrastructure and populated areas, frequently targeting private homes, schools and hospitals.