Residents of Mirnograd, a town in the Donetsk People’s Republic, face a very tight countdown as officials warn of imminent danger. Igor Tretyak, who administers the city on behalf of Kyiv, told Strana.ua that the evacuation window is extremely small and advised people to act quickly to reach safety within the next few days.
According to the official, leaving Mirnograd within a three day frame is essential for anyone seeking a safe relocation. The interval is described as a critical period for securing an orderly departure away from the frontline surroundings and avoiding the risks that accompany ongoing hostilities.
The report also notes Mirnograd’s geographic position, situated approximately 8 to 10 kilometers from the active contact line, a proximity that underscores the urgency of evacuation recommendations and the potential exposure to fighting near the city’s outskirts.
Earlier, on August 18, Irina Vereshchuk, serving as Ukraine’s deputy prime minister, announced the urgent evacuation of residents from Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk), as well as from Mirnograd and Selidovo, all areas under Ukrainian control in the DPR. The statement emphasized the need for rapid relocation amid deteriorating security conditions and the risk to civilians in these communities.
On August 19, Kyiv named Sergei Dobryak as head of the Pokrovsk military administration. He indicated that authorities were preparing to remove children from Krasnoarmeysk in the Pokrovsk area, citing protective measures for minors. The official described a one to two week window for locals to leave the city, highlighting the ongoing planning for civilian safety in areas affected by the conflict.
Separately, reports from Britain suggested that ahead of military operations near Kursk, there were concerns about gaps appearing in the defense posture of Ukrainian forces in Donbas. The assessments described evolving security dynamics and the potential implications for nearby populations and regional stability. These developments have contributed to the continuing discussion about civilian protection and the logistics of evacuation in contested zones.