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CRISIS IMPACT OVERVIEW
In August 2024, the Russian military made its biggest monthly territorial gains in Ukraine since October 2022, advancing 477 km2 into Ukrainian territory amid intensified operations in Donetska oblast since July 2024 (TheDefensePost 03/09/2024). Russian troops captured several villages, including Komyshivka, Novozhelanne, and Zavitne. By 16 September, Russian troops were approximately 8km from the key town of Pokrovsk, a critical Ukrainian military and logistics hub in Donetska oblast (Suspilne 02/09/2024, ISW 16/09/2024; BBC 29/08/2024). The number of verified casualties (killed and injured) in Donetska oblast steadily increased from 125 in May to 224 in June, 269 in July, and 60 fatalities in August, highlighting the growing risks to civilians amid the escalation (OHCHR 09/08/2024, ACLED accessed 17/09/2024). As the security and humanitarian situation deteriorates, displacement continues, with the Government of Ukraine conducting mandatory evacuations of civilians. Almost 50,000 people were evacuated from Donetska oblast in August, three and a half times more than in the previous month (Suspilne 29/08/2024). Still, many civilians — including families with children — have not evacuated; as of 31 August, 44,867 people remained in Pokrovksyi raion despite Russian advances (IOM Ukraine Frontline Flow Monitoring and Population Baseline, 14-31/08/2024). At least 26,000 people remained in Pokrovsk town as of 1 September (OCHA 12/09/2024). Those remaining, including people unable to evacuate, face disruptions to critical services, including shops, pharmacies, and banks, as well as significant security and protection risks from constant shelling. These impacts will be particularly acute for those who cannot go on the move — including older people and those with health or mobility issues. With some hospitals damaged or out of operation because of the conflict and other hospitals moved outside Donetska oblast, available healthcare in the region is limited, mostly to mobile and emergency services. With hostilities near Pokrovsk and other areas of the front line in Donetska oblast, including Chasiv Yar, Myrnohrad, and Selydove, likely to continue in the coming weeks and humanitarian needs likely to grow as a result, humanitarian responders will struggle to meet rising needs. Humanitarian access has already been disrupted, both as hostilities reduce the ability of humanitarian responders to deliver services and civilians to access those services. For example, the shifting front line has cut off access to the critical road connecting Kostiantynivka and Pokrovsk, which was serving as an aid delivery route to many communities across Donetska oblast. This has not only made humanitarian operations in the area riskier given its location within the artillery range of the Russian military but has also limited the ability of aid organizations to reach people both near the front lines, whose needs are likely to rise amid the growing insecurity, and who are displaced or have been evacuated (OCHA 31/08/2024; ACAPS 29/07/2024).