The Russian army is restricting its grip on the twin towns of Sievierodonetsk and Lyssytchansk, the last two urban agglomerations still under Ukrainian control in the Luhansk region.
Russian troops advanced so close that they could fire mortars in Sievierodonetsk, announced in the Telegram the governor of the region, Sergei Gaïdaï, according to whom the city sinisira lang.
He accused the Russian army of bombing the city continuous, including the use of multiple Smertch and Tornado rocket launchers. According to him, the bombs also targeted the Azot factory, where civilians took refuge in air raid shelters.
” The situation in the city is very difficult. Yesterday there was already a fight outside [de Sievierodonetsk]. Next week will be decisive. “
The Russian Interfax agency quoted in its part an unnamed representative of pro-Russian separatists fighting alongside Moscow, according to which Sievierodonetsk was surrounded on three sides: north, south and east.
the New York Times estimated a few hours ago that Russian troops located north and south of the city were only 26 kilometers apart.
The Interfax source further says that the only bridge outside Sievierodonetsk is now under Russian control, information that cannot be verified independently.
The Ukrainian General Staff has been announcing for several days that Russian troops are trying to trap Ukrainian troops in the region by besieging them in the west.
" All the last forces of the Russian army are now concentrated in this region [du Donbass]. The conqueror wanted to destroy everything there. "
A spokesman for Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksandr Motuzyanyk admitted on Wednesday that the army was fighting hard to maintain control of the main highway that provides the twin cities.
Sievierodonestk, with a population of approximately 100,000 before the war, was under pressure for several weeks. According to Ukrainian authorities, dozens of civilians were killed there.
According to Governor Gaïdaï, at least six civilians have been killed and eight others injured in the past few hours.
In Kramatorsk, 80 kilometers east of Sievierodonetsk, the streets were further deserted on Wednesday while in Sloviansk many residents took advantage of what Ukrainian authorities presented as a stop for Russians to flee the city.
In the evening from Tuesday to Wednesday, two missiles also fell on a railway repair shop in Pokrovsk, causing major damage.
Pokrovsk, northwest of the city of Donetsk, is one of the supply and evacuation hubs for the region of the same name.
Source: Radio-Canada
