One local leader said Russian shelling of one city prevented higher evacuation figures.

Serhiy Haidai, governor of the eastern Luhansk region, said Russia had violated a ceasefire by firing in Lysychansk.

That prompted local residents to seek safety in their basements and not attempt their planned journeys.

Evacuations went on from other towns and cities including 42 residents from Severodonetsk, 11km away and 11 people from Rubizhne 21km to the north.

There have been 1,149 evacuations from across Ukraine, according to Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential administration. However, he has previously announced a lower number.