Situation around Sloviansk and Kramatorsk under Ukrainian Armed Forces’ control, but Russia’s aerial terror makes compulsory civilian evacuation necessary – Butusov
A mandatory evacuation of civilians must be carried out in Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, Donetsk region, prioritizing children, older people, and people with disabilities. Although there is currently no immediate threat of street fighting in these cities, Russian forces have significantly increased drone strikes and airstrikes, killing civilians every day.
Yurii Butusov, commander of the UAV company of the 23rd Assault Regiment within the National Guard's 2nd Khartiia Corps, said this during a broadcast with journalist Iryna Romaliiska, Censor.NET reports.
Intensifying enemy strikes
According to him, the situation around Sloviansk and Kramatorsk remains under control, with Ukrainian forces holding the advantage. However, Russia's aerial terror makes it deadly for civilians to remain there.
"The enemy has increased the number of UAV units in this sector, the number of long-range drones and the number of airstrikes. And every day, Russian drones kill civilians in these cities. So an operation to relocate people must be carried out gradually," Butusov said.
According to the serviceman, many civilians take their own safety lightly, hoping to "wait out" the attacks at home. As a result, they have to leave at the last moment, with enemy drones closely monitoring the area.
According to various estimates, up to 15,000 residents remain in Kramatorsk alone, including many children, the commander noted.
Need for a Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff decision on compulsory evacuation
Butusov believes the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff should consider a decision on mandatory evacuation. He stressed that the presence of civilians in frontline cities also diverts significant resources from the Defense Forces, as troops have to help people and risk their lives.
"That would be my hope if things in our country were handled rationally and pragmatically. Who should be responsible for people? Certainly, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff should consider the issue and look at the civilian death toll statistics. Then look at the problems that arise… Our troops cannot abandon people; they are still there — this diverts considerable resources and puts lives at risk," the serviceman said.
He stressed that compulsory evacuation must prioritize children, older people and people with disabilities.
"Many adults do not realize the psychological trauma war inflicts on a child. They cling to their homes and want their children nearby; they do not want their children to suffer somewhere else. But here, under shelling and airstrikes, what matters is that they are under supervision. Yet that supervision comes at a very high price. People who do not realize this clearly do not fully understand what parental responsibility means. The state must certainly evacuate all minors from such areas that are under intense enemy fire," Butusov concluded.
Background
The previous day, Yurii Butusov, commander of the UAV company of the 23rd Assault Regiment within the National Guard's 2nd Khartiia Corps, called for the compulsory evacuation of civilians from Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and other frontline settlements in Donetsk region because of intensifying Russian attacks.
