Families in Pokrovsk Ordered to Urgently Evacuate

City faces increased Russian advances after capture of Avdiivka
By Newser.AI Read our AI policy
Posted Aug 19, 2024 9:31 AM CDT
Families in Pokrovsk Ordered to Urgently Evacuate
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Defence Ministry Press Office, a strategically important bridge over the river Seym is destroyed by Ukrainian troops as they continue their incursion into the Kursk region, Russia, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. The bridge was used by the Kremlin to supply its troops...   (Ukrainian Defence Ministry Press Office via AP)

Ukrainian authorities have mandated the urgent evacuation of families with children from the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. Currently home to approximately 53,000 residents, Pokrovsk faces intense pressure from the advancing Russian military. The assault on Ukrainian positions in Donetsk and Luhansk has led to significant casualties on both sides, yet the Russian offensive gains ground.

In response, Ukraine has launched a tactical incursion into Russia's Kursk region, aimed at disrupting Moscow's plans and creating a buffer zone to deflect further attacks. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the operation is ongoing under strict secrecy. Closer to the battleground, Pokrovsk's residents, hurriedly making evacuation plans, have been given a two-week timeframe to relocate safely. Official warnings highlight that Russian forces are advancing rapidly, now just 10 kilometers from the city.

Heavy fighting has been reported in Pokrovsk and Toretsk, with the latter's capture would threaten Ukraine's key stronghold of Chasiv Yar. The Institute for the Study of War noted that Russia's advances in Pokrovsk average two square kilometers daily. The city's strategic importance—both as a defensive stronghold and logistics hub—means its fall would severely hamper Ukraine's defensive capabilities and supply routes. Authorities in Pokrovsk are coordinating the evacuation, offering refuge in western Ukraine for displaced residents. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)

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