Residents of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk consider leaving or staying

Families in Sloviansk and Kramatorsk continue to decide whether to evacuate or remain as Russian forces occupy roughly 80 percent of the Donbas region. The two cities form a central part of Ukraine's defensive line in the industrial area. On June 12, one household in Sloviansk loaded furniture, appliances and a parrot cage into a minibus after a May 31 strike destroyed part of their home.

A 29-year-old resident recalled the blast and the rescue that followed, noting her seven-year-old son sustained a concussion. The family left for Kryvy Rih, several hundred kilometers south, where relatives live. They departed without lingering at the damaged house, which had been covered with a tarp.

Ukrainian emergency services also assisted residents in nearby Kramatorsk. One team helped a 74-year-old woman and her son board a vehicle for departure on June 9. Local NGOs have organized additional transport for those choosing to leave. Officials have not released updated figures on how many people have departed the two cities in recent weeks.

Those who stay report ongoing difficulties with utilities and daily movement under the threat of further strikes. No timetable has been announced for any change in the defensive posture around the cities.