Ukrainian authorities have ordered the urgent evacuation of families with children from the eastern city of Pokrovsk as Russian forces advance in the Donetsk region. The decision to evacuate comes as Russia captured the town of Zalizne, further intensifying the conflict in the region.
Pokrovsk, a key logistics hub and defensive stronghold, is now at risk of falling to Russian forces, compromising Ukraine’s defensive abilities and supply routes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described the incursion into the Kursk region as an attempt to create a buffer zone to prevent further attacks from Russia.
The ongoing battle in the Pokrovsk area has seen heavy fighting, with Russian forces making significant advances in recent months. Residents have been given two weeks to evacuate the city safely, with officials warning of the rapid advancement of Russian forces, just 10km away from the city’s outskirts.
The capture of Zalizne by Russian forces, as well as the pressure on the nearby town of Toretsk, has raised concerns about the potential for a further advance towards key Ukrainian strongholds in the region. The Institute for the Study of War has reported that Russian forces have been advancing steadily in the Pokrovsk region, relying on infantry assaults to make incremental progress.
Pokrovsk officials are working to provide logistical support to evacuees, offering shelter in western Ukraine. With tensions escalating in the Donetsk region, the situation remains volatile as Ukrainian forces try to push back against the advancing Russian army.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com