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The enemy is now just 7 km from Pokrovsk.
This was reported by Volodymyr Zamotaev, head of the Pokrovsk District Military Administration, during an interview with Hromadske Radio.
«According to official information, the enemy is almost 7 km from the city of Pokrovsk. Active hostilities are very noticeable, especially at night. It’s very loud because the distance is so short», — said Volodymyr Zamotaev.
Zamotaev also mentioned that the Russians are actively using guided aerial bombs, S-300 missiles, and cannon artillery, which is already reaching the eastern districts of the city. He added that the situation in Myrnohrad is particularly dangerous.
«The Russians are heavily using guided aerial bombs. They’re already reaching the outer districts of the city with cannon artillery and S-300 missiles. As for Myrnohrad, it’s extremely dangerous there», — said Zamotaev.
The head of the Pokrovsk District Military Administration once again urged people to evacuate due to the deteriorating situation.
«Evacuation is the only right choice for civilians. Stay alive, unharmed, and move to safer regions of Ukraine», — emphasized Zamotaev.
Evacuation hotline: 0-800-500-121
As of today, nearly 27,000 people remain in the Pokrovske community. In Pokrovsk itself, there are 17,000 people, including 426 children. Zamotaev noted that while there is no categorical refusal to evacuate, people need time to prepare both mentally and physically. Social concerns about relocating to other regions are also a significant factor.
«Almost 27,000 people remain in the Pokrovsk community today, with 17,000 in Pokrovsk, including 426 children. While no one has outright refused to evacuate, people are understandably concerned about the social challenges of moving to other regions», — explained Zamotaev.
The pace of evacuation from Pokrovsk is improving. At the start of the active hostilities in February 2022, the city had nearly 60,000 residents.
«As of February 24, 2022, there were 59,249 residents in Pokrovsk. Today, 17,000 remain. The evacuation dynamics are positive, and people understand the severity of the situation. Evacuation is ongoing», — said Zamotaev.
Earlier, military expert and co-founder of the Ukrainian Centre for Security and Cooperation, Dmytro Zhmaylo, spoke on Hromadske Radio about the situation regarding the storming of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.
He noted that Russian forces have significantly slowed their advance in the Pokrovsk direction. Currently, they are advancing only 100-200 meters at a time, which is a much slower pace than a few weeks ago. This is largely due to Ukrainian troops successfully aligning their defenses along natural water obstacles and a system of reservoirs. According to Zhmaylo, in order for Russian forces to advance toward Pokrovsk, they must first overcome Ukrainian defenses near the town of Selydove, which they have been unable to do, despite progress in Novohrodivka and Mykhailivka.