Ukrainian authorities have ordered the evacuation of a key town in the Donbas region as Russian forces continue to make gains in the east of the country, despite Ukraine’s ongoing offensive into Russia’s Kursk region.
The town of Pokrovsk, a strategically important defensive stronghold and logistical hub for Kyiv’s troops on the eastern front, is now under threat as Russian forces advance. Officials have mandated the evacuation of families with children living in Pokrovsk and surrounding villages, giving them a deadline of two weeks to flee the area.
Governor Vadym Filashkin of Donetsk region revealed that over 53,000 people, including almost 4,000 children, still remain in the town. The decision to forcibly evacuate children and their parents or guardians was made in light of the escalating conflict and the imminent danger posed by the Russian army.
The head of the town’s military government, Serhii Dobriak, stated that the rate of evacuations has increased to about 500 to 600 people a day. Basic services are still operational in Pokrovsk, but they are expected to cease functioning as the Russian army closes in on the town.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Ukrainian forces are making progress in their incursion into Russia’s Kursk region. Zelensky stated that the incursion is achieving its goals, with more Russian prisoners of war being captured.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank noted that while Russia is pursuing a strategy of gradual advances in the east, Ukraine’s surprise advance into Kursk has allowed Kyiv to make significant gains. Kyiv claims to have seized nearly 1,000 sq km of Russian territory since the conflict began, while Russia gained about 1,175 sq km in the preceding months.
As the conflict intensifies and the situation remains fluid, the evacuation of Pokrovsk underscores the gravity of the situation in Ukraine’s eastern regions. The ongoing clashes between Ukrainian and Russian forces continue to shape the dynamics of the conflict, with both sides vying for control and strategic advantage.
