Kyiv Orders Mandatory Evacuations as Russian Frontline Approaches

Kyiv has intensified its drone strikes on Russian territories while instituting mandatory civilian evacuations amid Moscow’s relentless advance.

At a Glance

Kyiv launched 28 drones on Thursday, targeting Russian assets.
Mandatory evacuations in Donetsk as Russian troops advance rapidly.
Drones struck Marinovka airfield in Volgograd, causing significant damage.
Mass evacuations are underway, with 600 to 700 people leaving daily.

Kyiv’s Drone Offensive

Kyiv has escalated its drone warfare strategy significantly in response to Russia’s advancing forces. On Thursday, Ukrainian forces launched 28 drones, striking key Russian targets, including the Marinovka airfield in Volgograd. The attacks underline Kyiv’s efforts to push back against the rapid advance of Kremlin troops.

Andrei Bocharov, the region’s governor, stated, “Most of the drones were destroyed. As a result of the UAV crash, a fire broke out on the territory of a defense ministry facility.” The intensification of drone strikes also targeted oil refineries and airfields, marking 2024 as a year of heightened aerial assaults by Kyiv.

Mandatory Evacuations in Donetsk

The conflict’s impact on civilians is profound. As Russian forces edge closer to strategic locations, Kyiv has ordered mass evacuations in Donetsk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the pressing need for civilians to vacate dangerous zones.

Intense battles in the eastern city of Pokrovsk have also prompted mandatory evacuations. Every day, about 600 to 700 people leave the conflict zone, seeking safety away from the frontlines. Russian forces are making gradual progress in the Donetsk and Donbas regions, further complicating the humanitarian crisis.

Ukrainian Advances and Reinforcements

Ukrainian troops have recaptured approximately 600 square kilometers of territory and over two dozen settlements since early August. They even claimed control of a Gazprom facility in Sudzha, Kursk region, although this was later denied by local authorities. Satellite images also confirmed significant damage to an airfield in Russia’s Lipetsk region from Ukrainian strikes.

The Russian Defense Ministry has recently reinforced its troops with additional Grad multiple-launch rocket systems, artillery, and tanks to counter these advances. Moscow acknowledged that Ukrainian forceshade conducted the largest attack on Russian soil since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.