Russian-backed separatists in the eastern Ukraine region known as the Donbas said they are evacuating their region’s residents to Russia on Friday. Denis Pushkin, head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, said on social media that Russia had agreed to provide accommodation for those who leave, according to media reports. Women, children and the elderly should be evacuated first. The other self-proclaimed region, Luhansk, made a similar announcement. Pushkin said that he believes Ukrainian military forces will invade, adding that they have been bolstered by Western countries and “are now prepositioned for combat and ready to take Donbas by force,” according to Russian state-funded media. “That is why starting today, February 18, a mass evacuation of people to the Russian Federation has been organized,” he continued to say. Ukrainian officials immediately denied claims that its forces will attack the Donbas region. “We categorically refute Russian disinformation reports on Ukraine’s alleged …