Mandatory evacuation in Donetsk Oblast: how many children still remain in active combat zone

In 11 settlements of Donetsk Oblast where mandatory evacuation is under way, 794 children are still living there. Over the past week, only 97 children have left the dangerous areas.

Source: Yuliia Ryzhakova, acting head of the Children's Services, as reported by Suspilne. Donbas

Quote: "In the Druzhkivka hromada, children remain in particular in the city of Druzhkivka, there are 306 children; 4 children are in the settlement of Komyshuvakha; there are also children in the Andriivka hromada, namely 55 children in Serhiivka; 396 are in the Mykolaivka hromada; and 33 children are in the Sviatohirsk hromada," the official said.

According to Ryzhakova, over the past week the largest number of children were evacuated from the Mykolaivka hromada (49), with dozens more leaving Druzhkivka and nine evacuated from Serhiivka.

Background: At present, 12,416 children are living in Donetsk Oblast. On 24 December 2025, the Coordination HQ for evacuation measures decided to make the evacuation of children together with their parents mandatory from a further 19 settlements in the oblast.

In 21 settlements within the active combat zone in Donetsk Oblast, 34,500 civilians still remain. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, more than 1.32 million people have been evacuated from the region, including over 202,000 children.

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