From October 28 to November 2, 2024, the East SOS team carried out an international monitoring mission
From October 28 to November 2, 2024, the East SOS Charitable Foundation led an international monitoring mission to assess the civilian evacuation process from Ukraine’s frontline and the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in host communities.
In Donetsk, the team collaborated with the National Police and the White Angels unit, a specialized team dedicated to rescuing civilians from active conflict zones. The unit supports families, children, and elderly civilians, working under constant threat from drone attacks as they operate armored vehicles in areas like Bakhmut, Pokrovsk, Maryinka, Lyman, Kramatorsk, and the Velykonovosilkovo community. Despite the dangers, they coordinate closely with police, emergency services, and Phoenix medical teams to evacuate residents from high-risk areas.
Kramatorsk has established stabilization centers as essential first-aid hubs for evacuees. While these centers lack full inclusivity, they provide necessary shelter for those with limited mobility, families, and other vulnerable individuals. Charitable foundations contribute psychological support, legal aid, clothing, toys, hot meals, and facilities like showers, laundry, and emergency shelters with generators.
Pavlohrad has become a key transit point for evacuees from Donetsk. Here, IDPs can register for state resettlement and receive social and financial aid. The mission documented ongoing relocation efforts in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
“A pressing issue in frontline areas is the lack of clear evacuation strategies for individuals with limited mobility,” said Yuliia Matviichuk, coordinator of East SOS’s human rights department. “There is insufficient data on those needing assistance, especially if hostilities intensify. Many people with low mobility stay at home, relying on family or social workers. We must learn from past experiences and implement individualized evacuation plans, particularly for those needing continuous care.”
The East SOS team visited several Donetsk locations, including Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, Dobropillia, and Oleksandrivka, as part of the “Support for Vulnerable Groups and Residents of Remote Areas Affected by the War” project, funded by the European Union.
