Around 7,300 civilians still reside in Pokrovsk, as evacuation rates have decreased amid escalating security concerns.
According to Serhii Dobriak, head of the Pokrovsk Military Administration, speaking on Suspilne,
"The security situation is deteriorating. Over recent weeks, there has been constant artillery shelling, guided bombs, and relentless attacks by FPV drones—they’ve become a significant issue."
Dobriak noted that after gas and electricity supplies were cut off in mid-December, nearly 3,000 people left the city in just one week. However, the current evacuation rate has dropped to about 5–10 people per day.
The official emphasized that Russian forces have been deliberately targeting municipal equipment for the past seven weeks.
"They’ve intentionally 'hunted' small 5-ton trucks delivering goods to stores and bread delivery vehicles. It’s cynical. We understand that FPV drone operators see exactly where they’re directing their strikes. Tragically, one of our municipal heating workers was killed by an FPV drone while heading to work. Such attacks have become a horrifying statistic of targeted strikes against our people," Dobriak said.
Only a small area, approximately 15% of the city, remains out of the drones’ reach for now, but Dobriak warned this may not last long.
Currently, few stores and pharmacies remain operational in Pokrovsk, and only a handful of territorial center specialists are on hand to convince elderly residents to evacuate. Municipal workers continue to collect garbage, and a funeral service is still functioning.
In some areas, workers are securing buildings where safety allows, though most efforts are focused on safer locations. Meanwhile, heating network employees have independently built two boilers to provide warmth for hospitals.
In recent months, Russian forces have intensified their attempts to breach Ukrainian defenses in the Pokrovsk direction, making this front line one of the most challenging areas of combat.
