Police authorities in Ukraine have issued evacuation orders for residents of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, two neighboring cities that represent the largest population centers in the Donbas region still fully controlled by Ukrainian forces. Officials cite dramatically worsening security conditions as the primary reason for the forced departures, particularly affecting families with children. According to Donetsk police, the frequency and intensity of attacks on these cities have escalated substantially in recent months.
The three cities of Slovyansk, Kramatorsk, and Kostyantynivka form part of Ukraine’s “fortress belt,” a system of heavily fortified defensive positions in the east. However, Kostyantynivka is reported to have limited Ukrainian military presence remaining, with Russian forces claiming full control of the territory. Russia currently controls nearly 80 percent of Donetsk region, where all three fortress cities are located, as well as most of Luhansk region. Capturing the remaining Ukrainian-held areas represents a key military objective for Moscow, which has framed the campaign as liberation and protection of the predominantly Russian-speaking Donbas.
Attacks on the two cities have intensified dramatically. Civilian casualties from Russian strikes rose from 70 wounded in June to 212 in August, while fatalities remained in the range of 15 to 20 monthly. Russian glide bomb deployments increased from 40 in June to 109 in July and 92 in August. These weapons, equipped with winglets for guided descent, are considered among Russia’s most effective and destructive arsenals, with typical weights ranging from 250 to 500 kilograms, though larger variants up to 1,500 kilograms have been documented.
The strategic importance of the contested territory has drawn international attention. Recent discussions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. envoys focused on the status of remaining Ukrainian-held Donbas areas. Despite suggestions that Russian territorial claims should be accepted, Zelensky has refused to withdraw forces from the region. According to the Ukrainian leader, Russian command has been directed to complete occupation of Donbas by year-end. In response to mounting pressure, Ukraine has established two new defensive taskforces led by experienced generals to preserve control of remaining territory.
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