Russia intensifies strikes on Slovyansk and Kramatorsk as Donbas offensive grinds on

September 11, 2026 at 04:22 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Russian forces have sharply increased drone and glide bomb strikes on the Ukrainian-held cities of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, with civilian casualties rising from 70 wounded in June to 212 in August. Police in Donetsk region have begun forced evacuations of families with children from the worst-hit areas, warning that staying is life-threatening. The intensified bombardment comes as Russia claims full control of nearby Kostyantynivka and pushes to capture the remaining Ukrainian strongholds in Donetsk region.

Key Facts

Civilian casualties in Slovyansk and Kramatorsk rose from 70 wounded in June to 212 in August, with 16 killed in June, 20 in July, and 15 in August.
Russia launched 40 glide bombs at the two cities in June, 109 in July, and 92 in August, according to Ukrainian police data.
On 25 August, nine glide bombs hit Kramatorsk, seven of them striking civilian apartment blocks and wounding 24 people, including a two-month-old baby.
Two days later, Kramatorsk was hit by seven more glide bombs and Slovyansk by five.
Russia claims full control of Kostyantynivka, while Ukrainian troops maintain only a limited presence there, according to reports.

Evacuations and Civilian Toll

Police in Donetsk region have begun forced evacuations of families with children from the most dangerous areas of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk. Pavlo Dyachenko of Donetsk police said security has deteriorated so much that evacuation is 'the only way to save your life.' Slovyansk used to be hit by glide bombs roughly once a week, but now strikes occur almost every day, Dyachenko added. Residential housing is attacked alongside infrastructure, causing what Dyachenko described as 'very significant destruction.' Many civilians have already left, and key streets in Kramatorsk are covered with anti-drone nets, according to volunteer Viktor Makurin.

Russian Offensive on the Fortress Belt

Slovyansk, Kramatorsk, and Kostyantynivka form part of Ukraine's 'fortress belt' of heavily reinforced defence lines in the east. Russia claims full control of Kostyantynivka, while reports say Ukrainian troops maintain only a limited presence there. The Russian army already controls almost all of Luhansk region and nearly 80% of Donetsk region, where all three fortress cities lie. For the past few months, territory near Kramatorsk and Slovyansk has been the main focus of Russian ground assaults. Capturing the two cities would potentially make it much easier for Russia to advance westward.

Drone and Glide Bomb Strikes

The number of glide bombs launched by Russia jumped from 40 in June to 109 in July and 92 in August, according to Ukrainian police data. On 25 August, nine glide bombs targeted Kramatorsk; seven hit civilian apartment blocks, wounding 24 people including a two-month-old baby. Two days later, Kramatorsk was hit again with seven glide bombs, and five bombs targeted Slovyansk. Volunteer Viktor Makurin said FPV drones are often in the air, and driving around the city is 'lethally dangerous' with drones lying in ambush on roads. Explosions are constantly audible in the background, and mobile groups fire at drones, Makurin told the BBC.