Escalating Russian Bombardments in Pokrovsk Threaten Civilians

Escalating Russian Bombardments Threaten Civilians in Pokrovsk

Intensified Russian airstrikes in and around Pokrovsk, a critical city in eastern Ukraine, have severely disrupted water supplies and obliterated a vital overpass, isolating residents and limiting their escape routes. On Thursday, Ukrainian officials reported that the situation is rapidly deteriorating for those still in the city, which is now under significant threat from advancing Russian forces, positioned just five miles away. Authorities are urgently urging all remaining residents to evacuate as conditions worsen.

Residents who have chosen to remain are now reliant on water sourced from wells dug near their apartment complexes, as much of the city has been left without natural gas or electricity. “The situation is dire and won’t improve anytime soon,” stated Vadym Filashkin, the head of the military administration for the Donetsk region, in a post on the Telegram messaging app. He emphasized, “Leaving is the only smart option,” reflecting the gravity of the circumstances.

Pokrovsk has become the focal point of an enduring Russian offensive that persists despite Ukraine’s bold tactical maneuvers in August, which included an incursion into the Kursk region of Russia to divert attention and resources. In a recent address, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine confirmed that Ukrainian troops are now also facing a counteroffensive aimed at their positions in Kursk, following reports on social media from Russian military bloggers and analysts indicating that Ukraine has lost control over several villages during recent conflicts. “Russia began counteroffensive activities,” Mr. Zelensky remarked, highlighting the escalating tensions.

As the situation unfolds, Pokrovsk appears poised to experience the same grim fate that has befallen other cities in the eastern Donbas region, such as Sievierodonetsk and Bakhmut. These cities have suffered greatly as they fell within the range of Russian artillery and missile strikes that decimated key infrastructure. Reports from these areas tell of flickering lights, dry water taps, and an exodus of those who could afford to flee, leaving behind a population of vulnerable civilians, many of whom are elderly, seeking refuge in basements as relentless shelling reduces their buildings to rubble.

Throughout the summer, Russian forces have escalated their bombardments of Pokrovsk, employing glide bombs, which are significantly more destructive than conventional ground-based artillery due to their capacity for carrying heavier explosive payloads. In an interview last month, Serhiy Dobryak, the city’s military administrator, expressed concerns that the initial targets for bombing would be critical infrastructure, followed by residential areas as the Russian military closed in.

The Ukrainian military has braced for urban combat in Pokrovsk, establishing concrete pillboxes along several roads to fortify their defenses. While recent Russian offensives have primarily targeted rural areas south of the city, the threat to Pokrovsk remains acute, and the situation continues to evolve.

In a further indication of the deteriorating security in the city, Ukrainian authorities have suspended daily evacuation trains from the local train station. An overnight bombardment resulted in the collapse of a crucial overpass, exacerbating the challenges faced by civilians. Though evacuation by car or bus remains possible via side roads, the destruction of bridges and the ongoing loss of water signal the onset of a new, perilous phase for Pokrovsk, as officials warn of increasingly dire conditions.

Reporting contributed by Maria Varenikova.