Eastern villages in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast are urgently evacuating residents as Russian troops approach.
Hear it Straight
In a tense turn of events, the authorities of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast have ordered a compulsory evacuation of families with children from four villages due to the looming threat of Russian forces. The affected settlements are Kolona Mezhova, Novopidhorodne, Raipole, and Sukhareva Balka, all nestled in the Mezhova community.
Governor Serhii Lysak issued the evacuation notice on April 25, 2025, owing to the rapid advancement of Russian troops, whom sources claim are only 5 to 15 kilometers (3-9 miles) away from the villages.
As anxiety in the region skyrockets, residents are urged to gather vital documents, cash, medications, water, food, and other essentials for a short-term stay. Local authorities are arranging transport for the evacuees.
While Donetsk Oblast has long been a hotspot for Russia's aggression against Ukraine, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast has thus far remained untouched. However, the region has not been spared from Moscow's relentless attacks through drones, missiles, and aerial bombs, leading to heavy civilian casualties.
Despite diplomatic efforts by the U.S. to end the conflict and pleas from Kyiv for an unconditional ceasefire, Russia's advance shows no sign of slowing down. In a surprising move, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a three-day truce from May 8-10 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, a proposition that has been met with skepticism from Ukraine.
Behind the Scenes
In reality, the evacuation order applies to seven villages in total, not just four. The other three are yet to be identified. The evacuation is a preventive measure, given the intensified hostilities and the villages' vulnerability due to their proximity to the administrative border with Donetsk Oblast, making them potential targets for Russian incursions.
- The remaining three villages in the Mezhova community, yet to be identified, are also subject to the mandatory evacuation order in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast due to the escalating conflict with Russia.
- Politics and general news outlets are abuzz with discussions about the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, particularly the compulsory evacuations happening in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, which has thus far remained relatively unscathed.
- Evacuation orders are not only occurring in Donetsk Oblast, but also in neighboring regions like Dnipropetrovsk, causing widespread concern among locals.
- Despite Moscow's proposal for a three-day truce to commemorate the end of World War II in Europe, recent events in Dnipropetrovsk indicate that the war-and-conflicts in war-torn Ukraine continue to intensify, especially along the border with Donetsk Oblast.
