Ukraine orders evacuation from several eastern towns

Ukraine evacuates children from Donetsk region due to Russian advances, using armored vehicles to protect against drone attacks.

Ukraine on August 4 announced the mandatory evacuation of children and their guardians from areas in the Donetsk region, where Russia has been claiming advances.

Just hours earlier, Russia said its forces had seized a nearby village, after claiming a string of villages in recent weeks — many just consisting of a few streets.

"The enemy is bombing the towns and villages of these communities every day, so it was decided to evacuate children with their parents or other legal representatives," Donetsk Governor Vadym Filashkin said, listing the towns and villages to be evacuated.

Mr. Filashkin cited the town of Novogrodovka, about 20 km from the village of Novoselivka Persha that Russia claimed to have captured on August 4.

The Donetsk governor said 744 children and their families had to be relocated to four regions of Ukraine.

"I have instructed that only armoured vehicles be involved in the process of evacuating children, as the enemy is actively using first person view drones in these communities," Mr. Filashkin said.

"We must make every effort to protect our children," he added.