Ukrainian authorities advise residents to leave eastern town of Pokrovsk due to advancing Russian forces

Military authorities in Pokrovsk, eastern Ukraine, are urging civilians to evacuate quickly as the Russian army is advancing towards the town, long a key target for Moscow in the conflict. This call for evacuation comes as Ukrainian forces are attempting to shift the focus of the Russian military by launching an incursion into the Kursk region across the border.
The urgency of the evacuation highlights the significant risk Ukraine is taking by bringing the war into Russian territory with the ongoing assault that began on August 6. This bold move is an effort to alter the dynamics of the conflict that has persisted for over two years, but it also leaves Ukraine’s defense vulnerable to Russia’s continued advancement, considering the superior forces and momentum of the Kremlin’s troops in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
Evacuations in the Donetsk region, particularly around Pokrovsk, have become increasingly critical in recent weeks as Russian troops are rapidly progressing. Local officials posted on Telegram emphasizing the swift advance of Russian forces and the diminishing time for residents to gather their belongings and move to safer areas.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a warning on Thursday, stating that Pokrovsk and nearby towns in the Donetsk region are under intense Russian assaults. He assured that essential supplies are being sent to the region to support those affected. Concurrently, authorities instructed residents to start evacuating the town promptly.