Residents in the eastern Donetsk region have been fleeing the area as the conflict escalates due to advancing Russian forces. One person has been killed in Russian shelling on an apartment building in the city of Kostiantynivka, prompting local authorities to issue mandatory evacuation orders. Despite the orders, some residents have been reluctant to leave their homes. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that about 83,000 people have been displaced in the Donetsk region since August 1st.
The majority of evacuees are from the Pokrovsk district, where fighting has intensified. Pokrovsk has been a key target for Moscow for months. In August, Ukraine launched a surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk region to divert Russian troops from eastern Ukraine. The southern oblast of Odesa also faced overnight strikes by Russian forces, resulting in damage to multiple buildings and vehicles. Ukrainian air defense forces claim to have shot down 16 Russian drones in the region.
Local residents have described the impact of the conflict on their lives, with one person detailing how their home was hit multiple times by artillery fire, resulting in a fatality. Another resident, whose house was damaged in the shelling, expressed relief that they were not home at the time of the attack. Despite the dangers posed by the ongoing conflict, some residents have been hesitant to abandon their homes. Local authorities have urged families, particularly those with children, to evacuate the area for their safety.
Evacuation trains have been used to transport hundreds of residents from Pavlohrad to Kropyvnytskyi and Lviv to escape the escalating conflict. The intensified fighting in the Donetsk region has spurred the displacement of tens of thousands of people, with authorities working to provide assistance to those in need. The ongoing conflict between Ukrainian forces and advancing Russian troops has led to damage to homes, buildings, and vehicles in the affected areas. Efforts to protect civilians and ensure their safety remain a top priority for both local authorities and humanitarian organizations.
