Strike possible at any time: Five children evacuated from Toretsk district

Five children from the Toretsk community in Donetsk Oblast were evacuated from the settlement near the front under constant explosions of Russian projectiles. The youngest child is just one year old. The Chief Department of the National Police in Donetsk Oblast reported that a police unit called White Angels had helped the minors and their mothers leave the dangerous area.

The distance from the village of Shcherbynivka, where the evacuation took place, to the front line is only 10 kilometres. The road to the settlement is constantly under Russian fire.  When the policemen were on their way to the families, they came under artillery fire from the Russians.

Russian shells exploded 100 metres from their car.

"We were passing a section of the road between Toretsk and Kostiantynivka, and our colleagues at the checkpoint told us that there had already been a strike in the morning here," the law enforcement officers said. Despite the danger, they continued the rescue trip because they knew that children were waiting for them.

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They said the situation was difficult but under control.

"The residents were already waiting for the White Angels with their collected belongings. The evacuation was carried out at an accelerated pace, as a strike was possible at any moment," the law enforcement officers said.

The law enforcement officers managed to take away two women and their children: 10-year-old Nadiia, 4-year-old Mykola, 9-year-old Volodymyr and Mark, and one-year-old Serhii. 

"The kids were picked up in an armoured vehicle and wearing special bulletproof vests for children. Both families are now safe," the National Police said.

The children and their mothers were taken to Kramatorsk.

From there, they travelled to a safe region of the country. "We carry out evacuation activities every week. Our priority is to evacuate children.

Children are our future, so we will do everything possible to ensure their safety," said Artur Marianian, head of the Bakhmut district police department.

Photo: Chief Department of the National Police in Donetsk Oblast

Background: Ukraine approved a mechanism for the forced evacuation of children from combat action zones.

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