East Ukraine stronghold evacuates families as Russia nears | International

KRAMATORSK, Ukraine, Oct 12, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - When authorities ordered the evacuation of families and children from parts of Kramatorsk in east Ukraine, 34-year-old mother of two Angela Bolonz was initially shocked. The city in the eastern Donetsk region has been a symbol of Ukrainian resistance for over a decade, battling a brief takeover by pro-Russia separatists in 2014 and resisting capture since Russia invaded in 2022. But with Moscow advancing to less than 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Kramatorsk and launching regular drone attacks, residents like Angela are grappling with the once unthinkable: that their city -- like so many others in the east -- could become unlivable. "When the evacuation was announced, people started leaving," Angela said in...