On the Donetsk Frontline, active combat continues daily. Particularly, Russian shelling targets Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, as occupiers persist in their goals to seize these towns. Primarily, they fabricate fake narratives about the supposed preparation by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to 'surrender' these cities, followed by their destruction.
A journalist from TRIBUN reached out to representatives of the local authorities, servicemen, learned about the operational situation in Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, and debunked Russian propaganda.
"Kramatorsk And Sloviansk Are Being Prepared For 'The Fate Of Death Cities.'"
In April 2024, Russian resources published a text message claiming that the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kramatorsk and Sloviansk are «mining all social facilities in these cities in order to blow up all objects before leaving, primarily social infrastructure.» In particular, they added an infographic about Kramatorsk, stating that it has been «occupied by the Kyiv regime since 05.07.2014».
By doing so, the occupiers are creating panic among the local population and intimidating people. This method of propaganda is also used to discredit the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Operational Situation in the Cities: Debunking the Fake
In fact, there is no panic in Slovyansk, although the city is subjected to shelling by Russian forces almost daily. All infrastructure objects are operational, and there is no forced evacuation.
"Shelling during the day has become more frequent, especially over the last two weeks. This wasn't the case before. But so far, it hasn't affected people's desire to evacuate. Everything is working in the city, all institutions are functioning, municipal services are provided in full, and transportation continues. Typically, people inquire about evacuation after shelling. Then residents call our round-the-clock hotline to consult on if, where, and how to evacuate if they decide to. Currently, no one is leaving en masse. About 54,000 people remain in Slovyansk," said Slovyansk Mayor Vadym Lyakh in a comment to TRIBUN.
Regarding Kramatorsk, the city is living its usual life but also suffers from shelling. There are damaged and destroyed objects. Since the settlement is located near the front line, where heavy fighting is ongoing, there is a threat of occupation.
"The situation on the fronts is difficult. Russian forces are trying to conduct assault actions along the entire front line. They are looking for weaknesses in our defense, so they continue to exert pressure on defensive positions. If just two months ago we mostly observed assault actions by infantry units, today there is a very active mechanized component. The enemy employs armored vehicles, heavy combat equipment, and their artillery works. Currently, a painful topic is the UAVs. Their use has increased significantly along the entire defensive line," commented Oleg Kalashnikov, the press officer of the 26th Artillery Brigade named after General-Horunzhy Roman Dashkevych.
"The main directions of the assault actions by Russian forces are Chasiv Yar, Bohdanivka, and Kalynivka. But it's worth noting that simply entering through the flanks and enveloping Chasiv Yar is not possible for them. They are hindered by Siverskyi Vistup, Klishchiivka, Andriivka... The enemy doesn't have any success there. So the propaganda information spread by the occupiers does not correspond to reality. Chasiv Yar is currently a fortified defensive line," added the press officer.
Therefore, there are no significant changes in the situation in Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. The Donetsk direction remains a media battleground due to the fighting, so Russia does not miss the opportunity to spread fake information.
