Ukraine Orders Evacuation of Key Donbas City Amid Russian Gains

Ukrainian authorities have issued an urgent evacuation order for the city of Pokrovsk in the Donbas region as Russian forces continue to advance in eastern Ukraine. This directive comes despite Ukraine’s ongoing military efforts, including a counteroffensive in Russia’s Kursk region.

Serhii Dobriak, the head of Pokrovsk’s military administration, announced that residents have at most two weeks to evacuate the area. The city, a crucial defensive stronghold and logistical hub for Ukraine’s eastern front, is under increasing threat as Russian troops close in.

Donetsk region Governor Vadym Filashkin reported that over 53,000 people, including nearly 4,000 children, remain in Pokrovsk. Authorities have decided to forcibly evacuate children and their families to ensure their safety. Filashkin emphasized the necessity of the evacuation, noting that the city is within range of Russian weaponry, making the situation increasingly perilous.

Dobriak mentioned that the pace of evacuations has accelerated, with 500 to 600 people leaving daily. However, he warned that essential services might soon be disrupted as the Russian military approaches.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region is ongoing and meeting its objectives. He noted that additional Russian prisoners of war have been captured, bolstering Ukraine’s “exchange fund.”