On August 19, 2026, a large-scale humanitarian operation to evacuate children from settlements in the zone of active hostilities continues in the Donetsk region. According to the latest data from the Department of Civil Protection, 169 minors were evacuated in August of the current year from seven villages where forced evacuation was declared. However, despite these successes, more than 500 children remain in the risk zone and require urgent relocation to safe areas.

Evacuation statistics and current situation

Dmytro Petlin, Head of the Department of Civil Protection of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration, reported that the evacuation process is proceeding according to plan but requires further acceleration. In particular, in the city of Nikolaevka, which previously remained one of the last settlements with remaining children, the situation has been resolved: on August 15, two children from one family were evacuated. Now there are no minors left in Nikolaevka, which has become an important stage in the overall campaign to protect the civilian population.

Priority zones: Kramatorsk and Sloviansk

The main focus of the authorities is on the Kramatorsk urban hromada, including the cities of Kramatorsk, Bilenke, and Krasnorichenske (Krasnotorka). It is here that the main mass of children awaiting evacuation is concentrated. In total, we are talking about 525 children from 424 families. The regional administration has strengthened forced evacuation measures due to constant threats of shelling by Russian troops. The authorities emphasize that the safety of children is a priority, and ignoring evacuation orders is unacceptable.

New mechanism: evacuation without parents

Due to the fact that some parents refuse to leave their homes or do not have the opportunity to accompany their children, a new evacuation mechanism has been approved in Ukraine. Now, children from territories of active and possible hostilities can be evacuated without the accompaniment of parents or legal representatives. This decision aims to eliminate bureaucratic and psychological barriers hindering the saving of lives. The implementation of this mechanism has already begun and covers both the Donetsk region and other border regions.

Expansion of the risk zone in Dnipropetrovsk region

The problem of child evacuation is not limited to the Donetsk region alone. On July 24, the zone of mandatory evacuation for families with children was also expanded in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Due to constant threats of Russian shelling, hundreds of residents, including more than three hundred children, must be relocated to safe areas. The situation remains tense, and authorities are calling on the population to remain vigilant and follow safety rules.

Contradictory data

Despite official statistics, there are discrepancies in assessments of the scale of the operation. Some sources indicate that the actual number of children subject to evacuation may be higher than the stated figures due to unregistered families and temporary population movements. In addition, there are reports that in some cases evacuation is delayed due to logistical problems and a lack of transport. At the same time, authorities insist that all necessary resources have been allocated and the process is proceeding in a normal mode.