Ukrainian authorities are urging families with children to leave the eastern city of Pokrovsk as rapidly advancing Russian forces threaten to capture the city. The city, home to approximately 53,000 people, is a key logistics hub in the Donetsk region and its capture would compromise Ukraine’s defensive capabilities and supply routes. According to officials, Russian troops are advancing at a fast pace, with every passing day bringing them closer to the outskirts of the city, leaving residents with only a two-week window to safely evacuate.
The situation is dire, with residents given only a brief window to gather their personal belongings and depart for safer regions as quickly as possible. Those who choose to leave will be offered shelter in western Ukraine, where they will be housed in dormitories and separate houses prepared for them. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has commented that Pokrovsk and nearby towns in the Donetsk region are facing the most intense Russian assaults, with Russian troops pushing toward the city for months despite suffering significant losses.
Despite these losses, Russia has been making gains in the region, leaving Ukrainian authorities worried about the potential consequences of the city’s capture. The uncertain situation in Pokrovsk and surrounding areas serves as a grim reminder of the brutal reality faced by Ukrainian residents trying to navigate the conflict. As the Russian forces continue to advance, the Ukrainian authorities are left with no choice but to issue evacuation orders to protect the lives of its citizens.