Kyiv: Ukrainian authorities have issued an urgent evacuation order for families with children in the eastern city of Pokrovsk as Russian forces make significant advances. Officials have highlighted the necessity for families to leave Pokrovsk and surrounding towns due to the rapid progress of Russian troops in the region.
The Ukrainian government has raised alarms, noting that Russian forces are moving swiftly, with the front lines now just 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Pokrovsk. Residents have been given a two-week window to evacuate safely, as officials stress the urgency of the situation.
“We are witnessing rapid advances by Russian troops,” officials stated last week. “There is increasingly less time to gather personal belongings and relocate to safer areas.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has underscored the severity of the situation, describing Pokrovsk and nearby towns in the Donetsk region as enduring some of the most intense assaults from Russian forces.
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The ongoing Russian campaign in Donetsk has been costly in terms of both personnel and equipment. Despite these losses, Russian advances continue, threatening to undermine Ukraine’s defensive capabilities and disrupt key supply routes.
Pokrovsk, with a prewar population of about 60,000, serves as a critical defensive and logistical hub. Its capture would significantly impact Ukraine’s ability to defend the region and could bring Russia closer to achieving its goal of controlling the entire Donetsk area.
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Local officials are working to facilitate the evacuation process, providing logistical support and arranging temporary shelter in western Ukraine. Evacuated residents will be accommodated in dormitories and private houses set up to ensure their safety and well-being.
