Nearly 200 children remain in Donetsk region's war zone

Acting head of the Children’s Services Department of Donetsk Regional Military Administration, Yuliia Ryzhakova, reported during an online briefing that 195 children currently remain in areas of active hostilities in Donetsk region.

According to Ryzhakova, 190 of these children are in the Lyman community, while 5 more are in Shcherbynivka, part of the Toretsk community. These five had previously been evacuated but later returned.

Approximately 29,000 people still live in 17 communities within the combat zone, including Bakhmut, Kurakhove, and Marinka. The number of frontline communities remains stable, though their composition has slightly changed — Selydove is now temporarily occupied, while Udachne has been added to the list of areas facing heavy fighting.

Donetsk region has the longest frontline in Ukraine, stretching around 300 km. Mandatory civilian evacuations are ongoing, and forced evacuations of children and families are being carried out in settlements near the front.

• On March 27, authorities expanded the mandatory evacuation zone for families with children to a 15-kilometer radius from the front line.