Faced with Russia’s superior artillery, Sievierodonetsk’s last defenders have been forced to retreat from the city center over the past few hours, Ukrainian authorities confirmed on Monday.
With artillery support, the enemy invaded Sievierodonetsk, achieved partial victory, and pushed our units back from the city center. The battle continuessaid the army personnel in its report in the morning.
The information was confirmed by the governor of the Luhansk region, Sergei Gaïdaï, who however confirmed on the social network Telegram that the street fight continued, as in a few days. According to him, Russian forces control 70% of the city.
” The battles were so intense that the battle, not only for a street, but for a tall building, could last several days. “
Sievierodonetsk and Lyssychansk, its twin cities west of the Donets River, are the last Ukrainian strongholds in the Luhansk region. Moscow focuses its forces there with the aim of seizing them.
Pro-Russian separatists supporting the Russian army to this end claimed on Monday that they had destroyed the latter of three bridges linking the two more deserted cities, which imprisoned the last Ukrainian fighters in Sievierodonetsk. .
Henceforth, they have two possibilities: they can follow the example of their armed comrades [à Marioupol] and give up, or they diesaid their spokesman, Edouard Bassourine, in an interview with Russia’s RIA Novosti agency.
The destruction of this bridge has not been confirmed by the Ukrainian authorities.
Sunday night, Governor Gaïdaï admitted that the last bridge between the two cities was in poor condition, but it could still be used. It was half destroyed. It is impossible for trucks to use ithe said.
" The main tactical goal of the occupiers has not changed: they are putting pressure on Sievierodonetsk, where intense fighting is taking place - literally for every meter. "
The governor also said Russia's bombardments targeted the Azot chemical plant, where he said he found nearly 500 civilians including 40 children, and hit sewage treatment plants in city. We are trying to negotiate a humanitarian corridor for civilians, so far no successdid he declare.
In Lysychansk, three civilians, including a six -year -old boy, have died in shelling in the past 24 hours, he said.
Radio Canada
Source: Radio-Canada
