The short version
- Authorities in eastern Ukraine have declared conditions too dangerous for civilians to remain in Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, initiating forced evacuations of families with children.
- Russian forces have significantly increased the frequency of glide bomb attacks on these cities, which serve as key nodes in Ukraine’s defensive line in the Donetsk region.
- President Zelensky has appointed new military taskforces to defend the area, while diplomatic discussions regarding the status of Donbas continue between US envoys and Ukrainian leadership.
Authorities in eastern Ukraine have issued urgent warnings for civilians to leave Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, citing a severe deterioration in security conditions. Police officials state that the intensity of Russian attacks has reached a threshold where remaining in these cities poses an immediate threat to life. Forced evacuations have already begun in the most heavily impacted neighborhoods, particularly targeting families with young children. Pavlo Dyachenko, a representative of the Donetsk police, emphasized that departure is now the only viable option for survival given the current operational environment.
Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, along with Kostyantynivka to the south, constitute what Ukrainian defense planners refer to as the fortress belt. This network of heavily fortified positions represents the last major urban centers in the Donbas region still under full Ukrainian control. The strategic importance of these locations cannot be overstated; their capture would significantly facilitate further Russian advances into western territories. While Kostyantynivka reportedly has only a limited Ukrainian military presence remaining, with Moscow claiming full control, Slovyansk and Kramatorsk remain focal points of intense combat.
The nature of the assault on these cities has shifted dramatically over recent months. Where glide bomb strikes were once a weekly occurrence in Slovyansk, they now happen almost daily. Data analyzed from Ukrainian police records indicates a sharp escalation in the use of these weapons. The number of glide bombs launched increased from forty in June to one hundred and nine in July, followed by ninety-two in August. These munitions, fitted with winglets to extend their range and precision, are considered among the most lethal tools in the Russian arsenal. They typically weigh between 250 and 500 kilograms, though heavier variants weighing up to 1,500 kilograms have also been deployed.
The human toll of this intensified bombardment is evident in rising casualty figures. Ukrainian police report that civilian injuries from attacks on Slovyansk and Kramatorsk surged from seventy in June to two hundred twelve in August. Fatalities remained relatively stable but significant, with sixteen deaths recorded in June, twenty in July, and fifteen in August. Residential areas have suffered substantial damage alongside critical infrastructure. A notable incident occurred on August 25, when nine glide bombs targeted Kramatorsk, seven of which struck apartment buildings, injuring twenty-four people including an infant. Two days later, another wave of strikes hit both Kramatorsk and Slovyansk.
Beyond heavy ordnance, the urban environment has become saturated with drone activity. Volunteers and residents describe a pervasive sense of danger as first-person view drones frequently patrol the skies. Anti-drone netting now covers many key streets in Kramatorsk in an attempt to mitigate this threat. Viktor Makurin, a volunteer from London, noted that driving through the city is lethally dangerous due to ambushes by remote-controlled drones lying in wait on roads. The constant background noise of explosions and mobile anti-drone units firing has become a grim reality for those who have not yet evacuated.
The broader strategic context involves Russia’s long-standing objective to fully occupy the Donbas region, comprising Donetsk and Luhansk. Moscow has frequently justified its invasion by citing the need to protect Russian-speaking populations in these areas. Currently, Russian forces control nearly all of Luhansk and approximately eighty percent of Donetsk. The push toward Slovyansk and Kramatorsk represents a critical effort to consolidate this territorial gain. An unnamed Ukrainian general described the current fighting as potentially the main battle of the year and possibly the next, highlighting the stakes involved in holding these positions.
In response to the mounting pressure, President Volodymyr Zelensky has reorganized command structures by creating two new taskforces led by experienced generals Andriy Biletsky and Denys Prokopenko. These units are tasked specifically with defending the remaining Ukrainian-held portions of Donbas. Zelensky has stated that Vladimir Putin has set a deadline for his generals to complete the occupation of the region by the end of the year. This timeline adds urgency to the current military operations and defensive preparations.
Diplomatic efforts continue to run parallel to the military conflict. The status of the Donbas territories was reportedly a central topic during recent visits by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to President Zelensky, following their own discussions with Vladimir Putin. While Witkoff has previously appeared sympathetic to Russian claims regarding the region, Zelensky remains firm in his refusal to withdraw troops from these areas. The outcome of the fighting in Slovyansk and Kramatorsk will likely influence future negotiations and the broader trajectory of the war.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC News↗Ukraine's fortress cities under fire as Russia bids to seize rest of Donbas
