Ukraine's "fortress cities" in the Donbas region are under intense attack as Russia continues its efforts to capture the last areas still under Ukrainian control. In Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, local police have urged civilians to leave due to worsening security. According to Pavlo Dyachenko from Donetsk police, forced evacuations of families with children have already started, emphasizing that "this is the only way to save your life." These cities, along with Kostyantynivka, form part of Ukraine's "fortress belt," a system of heavily fortified defense lines in the east. However, Kostyantynivka is reported to have only a limited number of Ukrainian troops, and Russia claims to have full control of it. The full capture of Donbas, which includes the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, is a key goal for Russia. Moscow has justified its invasion of Ukraine by claiming it is "liberating" and "protecting" the predominantly Russian-speaking population of Donbas. Russia already controls nearly all of the Luhansk region and about 80% of Donetsk, where these cities are located. Over the past few months, the areas near Kramatorsk and Slovyansk have been the main focus of Russian ground attacks. Taking these cities could help Russia advance further westward. The two cities are now experiencing heavy strikes from drones and bombs. Many civilians have already left, and key streets are now covered with anti-drone nets, according to Viktor Makurin, a volunteer from London. He described the situation as extremely dangerous, noting the presence of remote-controlled FPV (First-Person View) drones and the risks involved in driving through the city. The number of civilians injured by Russian attacks in these cities has risen sharply, from 70 in June to 212 in August, according to Ukrainian police. The death toll also increased during this period, with 16 in June, 20 in July, and 15 in August. Residential buildings and infrastructure have been targeted, causing "very significant destruction," according to Dyachenko. The number of glide bombs—munitions with winglets that allow them to glide to their target—launched by Russia has increased from 40 in June to 109 in July and 92 in August. On 25 August, nine glide bombs targeted Kramatorsk, with seven hitting civilian apartment blocks and wounding 24 people, including a two-month-old baby. Two days later, Kramatorsk was struck again with seven glide bombs, and five bombs hit Slovyansk. Glide bombs, which can weigh 250 or 500 kg, are considered some of the most effective and deadly weapons in Russia's arsenal. In some cases, Russia has used bombs as heavy as 1,500 kg. Dyachenko described the damage caused by these bombs as "incredible," and John Auckland Abbey, a British volunteer, called them "silent killers" on social media. Kramatorsk currently houses the headquarters of the Donetsk regional administration. The city used to be the capital of Donetsk until it was captured in 2014 by Russian-backed separatists. The areas of Donbas still under Ukrainian control were reportedly a key topic during recent visits by U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. While Witkoff has previously expressed support for Russian claims to the region, Zelensky is refusing to withdraw troops from Donbas. He stated that Putin has given his generals until the end of the year to complete the occupation of the region. Faced with growing military pressure, Zelensky has established two new task forces, led by experienced generals Andriy Biletsky and Denys Prokopenko, to defend the remaining Ukrainian-held areas in Donbas. An unnamed Ukrainian general reportedly said, "There isn't just a battle for Donbas there. What is probably the main battle of this year and the next is now unfolding."