The Ukrainian military has received increased reports of looting and robbery in the Russian-controlled city of Kherson, officials claimed in a statement Saturday.

“The number of cases of looting and illegal actions in Kherson has increased,” the Ukrainian General Staff of the Armed Forces said in a statement. “Occupants seize cars from the local population and try to leave the city using the ferry crossing near Antonivskyi bridge.”

Earlier Saturday, the Russian-backed administration told civilians to evacuate to the eastern bank of the Dnipro River. Ukraine’s counteroffensive is approaching, though the Kyiv government dismisses Russian claims of danger to citizens as unfounded “hysteria.”

Russian troops repositioning: Ukraine’s military also claims Russian forces are in retreat from the Kherson region, leaving two settlements about 100 kilometers (roughly 60 miles) northeast of the city, Charivne and Chkalove. Officers and medical personnel have evacuated from Beryslav, east of Kherson city, as well, the Ukrainian military said.

CNN has not independently verified the military’s claims on crime in Kherson or the Russian military’s movements.