7 children still in Avdiivka, parents hide them from evacuation

About 2,000 people remain in the city of Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, located near the contact line. Among them are seven children. Source: Vitalii Barabash, Head of Avdiivka Military Administration, on air during the national joint 24/7 newscast

According to him, Russian forces are constantly shelling 10-12 km of the road to Avdiivka and the road in the city itself. Still, the authorities find ways to evacuate people. Quote: "[It is possible] if there is a desire [to evacuate].

There are armoured capsules with which we take people out. The situation with children especially is very troubling," Vitalii Barabash says.

Currently, there are seven children in Avdiivka, whose parents, according to the military administration head, are hiding in basements. Quote: "This is the irresponsibility of parents who hide their children.

We find them, prepare for evacuation on the next day, and overnight they change locations and hide again. It is more or less easy in the city's central part, with apartment buildings. There are about 150 of them, but it is easier to find them [children - ed.] there.

And when they flee to the old part of the city, it is several thousand private yards. You cannot check every one," Vitalii Barabash says.

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Moreover, the head of Avdiivka Military Administration spoke about a case when a local teenager ran away from home on his own to evacuate.

"[He] spent half the day running around the city searching for volunteers to take him out. [He] did not find anyone, went home, changed clothes and left the city on foot. The boy went wherever. Thank God, the boy was picked up," he said.

First, the teenager was in the city of Pokrovsk, then he went to Dnipro, and now he is in Smila, Cherkasy Oblast. According to Barabash, the boy was "unstable", and psychologists are working with him. Background: Russian invaders are trying to encircle Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast.

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