The cities of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk—still the largest Ukrainian‑controlled pockets in the eastern Donbas—are now under a steady onslaught from Russian forces. Police in Donetsk province have begun forced evacuations of families with children, urging residents to leave their homes as the threat of looming attacks rises.
"This is the only way to save your life," says Pavlo Dyachenko of the Donetsk police, noting that strikes have increased from about one glide bomb per week to nearly daily. Since the war began, the Russian army has claimed control of most of Luhansk and roughly 80% of Donetsk, leaving these fortress cities as the final front in their campaign to seize all of Donbas.
Russian attacks target civilian housing and infrastructure alike, with the use of glide bombs—delivery systems that glide toward their target—causing significant damage. In June 2026, the number of civilians wounded in the two cities rose from 70 to 212 by August, and deaths reached 16 in June, 20 in July and 15 in August.
Local volunteers report that many streets are now covered with anti‑drone nets, and the constant presence of FPV drones in the sky has made driving through the city “lethally dangerous.” Drone strips and recent explosions have created a relentless environment of fear for residents.
Strategically, Kramatorsk houses the Donetsk regional administration’s headquarters, a remnant of the city that once was the region’s capital before its 2014 capture by Russian‑backed separatists. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has refused to pull troops from the region, insisting that Russian forces have until the end of the year to finish their occupation of Donbas. In response, Ukraine has formed taskforces led by generals Andriy Biletsky and Denys Prokopenko to strengthen defense of the remaining eastern territories.
As the Russian offensive focuses on the fortress belt, the world watches the unfolding conflict that could dramatically shift the balance in eastern Ukraine. The desperate plight of civilians in Slovyansk and Kramatorsk underscores the human cost of an ongoing military struggle over territory and sovereignty.
