There are 50 thousand residents left in Slovyansk: how the city lives under constant shelling.

According to ТСН: As of early January, about 50 thousand civilians live in Slovyansk, Donetsk region, among them approximately 4,800 are children. This was reported by the head of the city military administration, Vadym Lyakh.

Population decline in the city

According to him, before the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia, nearly 100 thousand people lived in Slovyansk. During the active fighting in 2022, the population decreased to about 18 thousand due to mass evacuation. Since then, the number of residents has been gradually changing, but the outflow of people continues.

Planning to leave due to shelling

The head of the MVA noted that after the New Year holidays, some residents plan to leave Slovyansk due to constant shelling and deteriorating security situation. Due to the cessation of railway communication from Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, evacuation is carried out through Barvinkove in the Kharkiv region—by private transport, buses, or with the help of volunteers.

Situation with utilities

Vadym Lyakh also noted that as of January 2, there are no critical problems in the city with electricity, water supply, gas, and heating, and utility services are operating as usual.

Situation in Donetsk region

At the same time, the situation in Donetsk region remains tense: Russian troops continue to shell populated areas, including using drones.

Slovyansk, like other cities in Donetsk region, is currently facing serious challenges amid the military conflict. The continuation of hostilities hinders the stabilization of the situation and the return of residents who are forced to leave their homes. Increased attention to security and the provision of vital services in cities is extremely important in these difficult times.