Mandatory Evacuation of Children Ordered Amid Rising Drone Attacks in Kramatorsk

On Thursday, Ukraine announced the mandatory evacuation of children and their caregivers from towns and villages near the frontline city of Kramatorsk, citing an increase in Russian drone assaults.

Kramatorsk, which had a pre-war population of approximately 147,000, is situated about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the front line in the Donetsk region, which has seen concentrated Russian artillery fire since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

In September of the same year, the Kremlin claimed to have annexed this industrial area along with three others, despite not holding full military control over them.

«The mandatory evacuation of families with children has been declared due to the worsening security conditions in certain parts of the Kramatorsk community,» the city council announced via social media.

«Residents of these areas, particularly families with children still present, must leave immediately with evacuation services,» they added.

Several districts within Kramatorsk, which bears the impacts of prolonged conflict, are included in the evacuation directive.

Authorities reported that Russian forces have intensified their use of inexpensive, small drones that have significantly altered the nature of combat along the extensive front line in recent months.

Kramatorsk remains the largest civilian center and military garrison in the Donetsk region that is still under Ukrainian control. It was briefly occupied by Kremlin-backed separatists in 2014.