Ukraine issues alarm over rapid Russian advance on significant eastern metropolis, while Moscow declares unsuccessful encroachment endeavor.
"Pack your bags, folks! It ain't getting any better. It's time to skedaddle." That was the blunt advice from local administrator Yurii Tretiak, head of the military administration in Myrnohrad, a town hardly 4.8km (3 miles) from the frontlines.
"The enemy's advancing faster than anticipated," Tretiak stated during a radio broadcast on Tuesday. "So, we're pushing as hard as we can to evacuate people before the week's end."
The community of Pokrovsk, comprising the city, Myrnohrad, and 39 nearby villages, is home to approximately 59,000 residents, according to Pokrovsk City military administration records. Around 600 to 700 people have been evacuating daily, they reported.
Under Ukraine's Donetsk region ministry for reintegration, children and their parents/legal guardians will be forcibly evacuated from select districts, such as Pokrovsk. However, Tretiak explained that many individuals are hesitant to leave – some even concealing their children from local authorities, forcing house visits by military officials.
"We've had instances of parents hiding their young ones. Tomorrow (August 20), we're meeting with the police to discuss addressing these individuals, tracking down such parents, and revealing the false claims that the kids have already departed," Tretiak shared, citing escalating threats in some areas of the town that see daily attacks.
"Those who delayed a week ago have already made their minds up and are fleeing in droves," Tretiak added. For the residents still undecided about evacuating, "the most common complaints include 'I don't have a place to go' and 'I'm not needed anywhere.'”
The forced migrations take place as Ukraine's Armed Forces announced Pokrovsk as the "hottest" area of conflict. "The situation in the Pokrovsk sector remains intense. Ukrainian forces repelled 11 attacks, and battles still rage in four locations," Ukraine's Armed Forces stated in their latest update.
Russia denies border incursion
On the other hand, Russian forces claimed to have halted an alleged Ukrainian intrusion into Bryansk's border region on Wednesday, according to regional governor Alexander Bogomaz.
"An infiltration attempt by Ukrainian DRG members into the Russian Federation territory in the Klimovsky district of the Bryansk region was thwarted on August 21," Bogomaz chanced upon his Telegram channel on Thursday.
According to Bogomaz, Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) agents and military units handled the Ukrainian intrusion attempt, eventually restoring stability and control to the region. Ukraine has maintained silence regarding the alleged incursion.
The Bryansk region has been targeted by Ukrainian operations since the recent invasion over two weeks ago. Ukraine's bold incursion into Russia's Kursk region has resulted in the conquering of over 1,000 sq km (386 sq miles) of Russian territory and the destruction of critical bridges in the western region.
This cross-border advance is an embarrassing setback for the Kremlin, marking the first foreign troops to enter Russian territory since World War II.
The evacuation process in Pokrovsk is not just affecting the local community, but it's a concern for the entire Europe due to the displacement of thousands of people. Despite the challenges, many residents are hesitant to leave, even concealing their children, making the evacuation process more complex.
In light of the intensifying conflicts in Europe, the world is watching closely as Ukraine and Russia engage in their ongoing dispute, with Russia denying a border incursion claim from Ukraine in Bryansk's region.
