Authorities have issued a dire warning to civilians in and around the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk: evacuate immediately or face the imminent threat of Russian forces, which are advancing faster than anticipated. As Moscow claims to have repelled a Ukrainian incursion into the Bryansk border region, the situation in eastern Ukraine grows increasingly perilous.
Residents in Pokrovsk and its surrounding communities are being urged to flee within the next two weeks as the Russian military inches closer. Yurii Tretiak, the head of the military administration in nearby Myrnohrad—now just three miles from the frontline—delivered a stark message: “Don’t wait. It will not get better, it will only get worse. Leave.”
With nearly 59,000 people residing in Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, and 39 neighboring villages, the urgency is palpable. Daily evacuations have surged to 600 to 700 people, yet many remain hesitant to abandon their homes. Tretiak highlighted the gravity of the situation, noting that the enemy is advancing with alarming speed. “We are trying to do as much as possible to evacuate people by the end of the week,” he said in a recent radio interview.
Pokrovsk, though not a major city, is strategically vital for the Ukrainian military, serving as a hub for resupply and casualty evacuation to Dnipro. The road connecting Pokrovsk to Kostiantynivka is crucial for maintaining Ukrainian defenses in the region.
In a drastic measure, the Ukrainian government has mandated the forced evacuation of children and their families from certain districts in the Donetsk region, including Pokrovsk. However, many parents are reportedly hiding their children from authorities, complicating evacuation efforts. Tretiak revealed that local officials are now coordinating with police to locate and assist these families, as some areas of the town endure daily attacks.
Despite the escalating danger, some residents remain reluctant to leave, citing reasons such as having nowhere to go or feeling unwanted elsewhere. Tretiak acknowledged these concerns but urged those remaining to reconsider, as the situation becomes increasingly dire.
The urgency of the evacuation is underscored by reports from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which describe Pokrovsk as the “hottest” front in the ongoing conflict. Ukrainian troops have repelled 11 attacks in the area, with fierce fighting continuing in multiple locations. President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that Ukrainian forces are being reinforced in the eastern region to counter the potential Russian advance.
In his nightly address, Zelensky emphasized the critical nature of the situation: “The frontline is our position, first of all Pokrovsk direction, our Donetsk region. We understand the moves of the enemy and are strengthening ourselves.”
As the battle for eastern Ukraine intensifies, the fate of Pokrovsk hangs in the balance, with civilians caught in the crossfire. The call to evacuate is not just a recommendation—it’s a life-saving necessity.