The city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast faces an escalating threat as Russian forces continue to advance. Residents have only a few weeks to evacuate to safer areas. This warning was issued by Serhiy Dobriak, head of the Pokrovsk City Military Administration, during an interview with Radio Svoboda.
Current Situation in Pokrovsk: What We Know
According to Serhiy Dobriak, essential services and public utilities in the city are still operational, but their functionality may soon be disrupted due to the increasing danger. It’s anticipated that forced evacuation of children will begin as early as this week.
“Before the full-scale invasion, there were 13,700 children in our community. Now, 4,788 children remain in Pokrovsk, which is about one-third of the original number. I expect that by the end of this week, we will have to proceed with the forced evacuation of children,” Dobriak stated.
He also noted that approximately 60% of the residents have already left the city using their own transportation. However, the evacuation process continues, and resources are available to support those who remain.
Time Is Running Out: Why You Should Leave Now
Given the pace of the Russian military’s advance, the situation could deteriorate rapidly, and the opportunity for a calm evacuation could vanish. Yesterday, 490 people left the city, with only 135 using the train, while the rest left in their own vehicles.
“We have the resources to evacuate at least 1,000 people a day. There is still time to leave in a calm and orderly manner, but the clock is ticking,” Dobriak emphasized.
Conclusion
Given the ongoing Russian military aggression and the increasing threat to the safety of residents, evacuating from Pokrovsk is now a critical priority for those who remain in the city. The local military administration urges citizens not to delay and to take advantage of the opportunity to relocate to safer regions.
For more information on Russia’s plans to supply weapons to the Houthis and how this might affect Western support for Ukraine, we recommend reading this article: Russia Aims to Undermine Western Support for Ukraine: Plans to Supply Weapons to Houthis.