Russian army approaches Slavyansk, children evacuated from the city

The head of the Donetsk regional military administration Vadim Filashkin issued an order for the forced evacuation of children from certain areas of the city of Slavyansk, Ukrinform reported.

"I have signed an order for the forced evacuation of children from certain districts of Slavyansk, which are most at risk from enemy shelling", Filashkin announced on his Telegram channel. He listed over 40 boulevards and streets that fall into the evacuation zone. "The most important thing is to save human lives. Especially the lives and health of children who are unable to make their own decisions and evacuate," Filashkin stressed.

Russian forces are slowly and gradually advancing on Slavyansk from the north and east, and some formations are about 20 km from the city, Reuters notes.

Slavyansk is one of several cities in eastern Donetsk region that are still under Ukrainian control. These cities form the main line of defense in the eastern Donbas region and are known as the "fortress belt". Ukraine still controls about a quarter of Donetsk region and says the "fortress belt" has provided defensive capabilities for years. However, the widespread use of drones in the military operations has expanded the danger zone around the front. Drone strikes have made areas 10 - 20 km from the front line unsafe.