Ukraine’s military pushes Russian soldiers back in Pokrovsk

Ukrainian troops in the eastern Donetsk region report gains in the fight to repel Russian forces near the strategic city of Pokrovsk.

The battle for the city, a key logistical hub in the Donbas region, has been ongoing for over nine months.

Azhur, a battalion commander with Ukraine’s 117th Brigade, said, “Are we holding them? We are. Are we pushing them? We are pushing. Are we advancing? We are.”

“We are not retreating now. At this moment, we have momentum.”

Pokrovsk, situated northwest of the city of Donetsk, has become a focal point in Ukraine’s efforts to slow the Russian advance and maintain control over vital supply routes.

Evacuations from frontline areas continue

At the end of March, a mandatory evacuation of families with children was announced in the frontline village of Bilytske and its surrounding area of the Donetsk region.

According to local police, officers and representatives of the military administration have been speaking with parents, urging them to evacuate.

In cases where families refuse to leave, Ukraine’s “guardianship authorities” have the legal right to temporarily remove children from their families.

According to Valerii Shakhrai, inspector of the juvenile prevention department, this measure is a last resort that is rarely used.

“The guardianship authorities have the authority to temporarily remove children from families that refuse forced evacuation, without depriving them of parental rights,” he said.

“Foster families. Then the parents can leave the dangerous area and pick up the child, but we use this very rarely.”

Elsewhere in the country, Ukraine’s Air Force reported a wave of Russian drone attacks overnight from Thursday into Friday.

A total of 39 drones were launched, with air defence units managing to shoot down 24 of them. The drones targeted multiple regions, including Dnipro, Donetsk, and Zhytomyr,” Shakhrai said.

Meanwhile, in a daily briefing, the Russian Defence Ministry claimed on Thursday to have gained control over the village of Zhuravka in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region.

Video editor • Lucy Davalou