Ukraine Orders Evacuation of Over 3,000 Children From Frontline Regions as Russian Advance Intensifies

Medics evacuate an injured civilian following a Russian airstrike in Kharkiv on January 2, 2026, as Ukraine orders the evacuation of thousands of children from frontline regions

Ukraine has ordered the urgent evacuation of more than 3,000 children and their parents from dozens of frontline communities in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions, as fighting intensifies and Russian forces push deeper into strategic areas of the country. The decision, announced on Friday by Ukraine’s Minister for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Restoration, Oleksiy Kuleba, highlights the growing humanitarian toll of the nearly four-year war and the increasing dangers faced by civilians, especially children, living close to active combat zones. According to Ukrainian authorities, the evacuations are mandatory, reflecting the deteriorating security situation and the immediate threat posed by ongoing shelling, air strikes, and ground offensives by Russian troops.

In a statement shared on Telegram, Minister Kuleba said the government had no choice but to take decisive action to protect vulnerable populations.

“Due to the extremely difficult security situation, a decision was made to forcibly evacuate more than 3,000 children and their parents from 44 frontline settlements in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions,” Kuleba said.

The affected communities are located dangerously close to areas where Russian forces have increased military pressure, using artillery, drones, and missile strikes. Ukrainian officials say the evacuation is necessary to prevent further civilian casualties, particularly among children who remain highly vulnerable to the effects of war. The evacuations are being coordinated by local authorities, emergency services, and humanitarian organizations, with families transported to safer regions deeper inside Ukraine, where accommodation, healthcare, and social services are being arranged.

Ukraine’s leadership has repeatedly warned that children living near the frontlines face constant psychological trauma, disrupted education, limited access to healthcare, and the daily fear of bombardment. Schools in many frontline settlements have been destroyed or shut down, forcing children to rely on online learning or informal arrangements, often under unstable electricity and internet conditions. In some areas, families have been sheltering in basements for weeks, while air raid sirens and explosions have become part of daily life. Human rights organizations say the forced evacuation, while painful for families, is a necessary step to save lives.

“Children cannot be expected to live under artillery fire,” one humanitarian worker based in central Ukraine said. “Every day spent in these areas increases the risk of injury, death, and long-term trauma.”

Minister Kuleba also confirmed that evacuations are ongoing in the northern Chernihiv region, which borders Belarus, a close ally of Moscow. Chernihiv has faced repeated shelling and cross-border attacks, raising fears that the region could become a renewed flashpoint in the conflict. Ukrainian authorities remain wary of potential escalations from the north, even as most intense fighting continues in the east and south.

“Evacuations are continuing in northern regions as well, particularly Chernihiv, which has repeatedly come under Russian fire,” Kuleba added.

The scale of displacement caused by the war continues to grow. According to official figures released by the Ukrainian government:

• More than 150,000 civilians have been evacuated from frontline areas since June 1, 2025
• Nearly 18,000 of them are children
• Over 5,000 evacuees are people with limited mobility, including the elderly and persons with disabilities

These numbers reflect both the persistence of the conflict and the Ukrainian government’s efforts to minimize civilian casualties by relocating people away from active battle zones. Despite evacuation efforts, millions of Ukrainians remain displaced internally or have fled abroad since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The Dnipropetrovsk region, an industrial heartland of Ukraine, has increasingly come under pressure as Russian forces attempt to expand their territorial control beyond the eastern Donbas region.
While Dnipropetrovsk was initially spared the worst fighting during the early stages of the war, recent months have seen a steady increase in Russian military activity, including missile strikes on infrastructure and attempts to push ground forces closer to key transport routes. Military analysts say Moscow views the region as strategically important, both economically and logistically, as it connects several major parts of Ukraine.

“The fighting around Dnipropetrovsk signals Russia’s intent to stretch Ukrainiandefensess and create new pressure points,” said a regional security expert. “That inevitably puts nearby civilian populations at greater risk.”

In the southern Zaporizhzhia region, Russian advances had previously been limited compared to the heavily contested eastern regions. However, Ukrainian officials report that Russian operations have intensified in recent months, leading to the capture of several small settlements. Russia has repeatedly claimed territorial gains in the region, though Ukraine often disputes these claims or says fighting is ongoing. Zaporizhzhia is also home to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, which has remained a source of international concern due to repeated military activity around the site. The renewed fighting has forced authorities to reassess the safety of communities previously considered relatively stable, prompting the latest evacuation order.

In September 2022, Russia announced the annexation of four Ukrainian regions, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Lugansk, and Kherson, following widely condemned referendums held in occupied territories. Ukraine and the international community rejected the annexations as illegal, noting that Russia does not even fully control all the regions it claims. Despite these declarations, the war has continued with no clear resolution in sight, and control over territory remains fluid, particularly near frontline settlements.

The evacuation of thousands of children underscores the severe humanitarian strain caused by the conflict. Aid agencies warn that Ukraine’s social systems are under immense pressure as they work to house displaced families, provide education for children, and deliver medical care amid ongoing hostilities. International partners, including the United Nations and European Union, have continued to provide funding and logistical support for evacuation and resettlement efforts. However, aid groups say resources are stretched thin, especially during winter, when heating, shelter, and healthcare needs increase.
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For many parents, leaving their homes behind is heartbreaking. Some families have lived in these communities for generations, and evacuation often means uncertainty, job loss, and separation from relatives who choose or are unable to leave.

“I don’t know when we will come back,” said a mother of three evacuated from a village near Zaporizhzhia. “But my children’s lives are more important than any house.”

Ukrainian officials say returning will only be possible once security conditions improve, a timeline that remains uncertain as fighting continues. As the Ukraine-Russia war enters another year, the forced evacuation of children from frontline regions serves as a stark reminder that civilians remain caught in the middle of a brutal and protracted conflict. While diplomatic efforts continue behind the scenes, the reality on the ground remains grim for families living near the frontlines. For now, evacuation offers safety but also displacement, loss, and unanswered questions about the future.

By PrimeLineInfo