Russian forces now control a third or half of the city of Sievierodonetsk, in the Luhansk region, where street fighting still continues, despite the presence of thousands of civilians.
We can say that the third of Sievierodonetsk is already under our controlleader of the self-proclaimed pro-Russian republic of Luhansk, Leonid Pasechnik, told Russian news agency Tass.
The front line divides the city into two. But the city is still defending itself, it’s still Ukrainian and our soldiers are defending itthe mayor of the city, Oleksandre Striouk, said on Ukrainian television.
More than the percentage of captured territory, these statements show the rapid advance of Russian troops, who had only arrived outside the city at the end of last week.
In another interview with the Associated Press, Mayor Striouk mentioned a furious thrust The forces of Russia, destroying the city ruthless, corner to corner.
According to him, violent street fighting and the ongoing artillery fire threaten the lives of approximately 13,000 civilians still confined in the devastated city, in increasingly dangerous conditions.
Evacuation operations still taking place over the weekend were halted on Monday after an armored vehicle used for this purpose by Ukrainian authorities was hit by a Russian strike, killing a French journalist on the road. in the twin cities of Lysytchansk.
" Civilians are dying from direct hits, fragmentation of wounds, and under the rubble of damaged buildings, as most residents are hiding in basements and shelters. "
About 1,500 city residents have died since the war began on Feb. 24, according to Mayor Striouk's estimates. It is impossible, however, to make a more accurate assessment, as the shelling in the city is relentless, he said.
Power was cut off in Sievierodonestk and people needed water, food and medicine, the mayor said. There is food for a few days, but the problem is how to distribute it his observation.
The Ukrainian governor of the Luhansk region, Serguiï Gaïdai, proving to be controlled by Russian troops a part of the city, did not eliminate the Ukrainian forces withdrawn to avoid being surrounded, as their counterparts in Mariupol did.
This is the war. We cannot make such predictions. But if they had to retreat across the river [Donets] - closer to Lysytchansk - to keep the troops, so they probably will he said in an interview with the BBC.
Source: Radio-Canada
