Ukrainian forces on Tuesday they were engaged in surly street fighting with Russian soldiers in industrial city of Severodonetsk, trying to hold on to the gains from a sudden counterattack upset the momentum in one of The deadliest land battles of War, as the Kremlin paid for control of Eastern Donbass region.
The fight for The small Industrial city Popped as a hub battle in eastern ukraine, with Russia focus in offensive maybe there in Hope of Investigation one of Declared war objectives – in full capture Surrounding Luhansk Province on In my name or for me of Separatist agents.
After withdrawing all files city in The face of Russian advance, Ukrainian forces launched a surprise counterattack last Week, the Russians were expelled from a vast area of The city Center. Since then, the two armies faced off Across the boulevards, both claim great loss of life.
Our heroes do not give up attitudes in Severodonetsk, said President Volodymyr Zelensky in Overnight video title, describing fierce street fighting in The city. Earlier, he told reporters at a press briefing that Ukrainians were outnumbered but still “all of them”. chance” of fighting back.
The city’s mayor, Oleksandr Stryuk, told Ukrainian TV on Tuesday that the Ukrainian forces are doing everything in their power to preserve their territory: “Our armed forces have consolidated their positions and held the line.”
Before the Ukraine counterattack, Russia looked on the edge of Encircle the garrison of Ukraine in Luhansk Province, cutting off The main The road to Severodonetsk and its twin city Lysychansk across the Severskyi Donets River.
But after the counterattack, Zelensky said made Surprise visit to Lysychansk on Sunday, personally indicates that Kyiv The road remains open to the stronghold of its forces.
Ukraine defense The ministry said it was Russia throwing troops and equipment in that drive to me capture Severodonetsk. Luhansk Governor Serhiy Gaidai said that Russian forces are in control of the industrial suburbs of Severodonetsk, one of two cities in Luhansk region resident in Ukrainian hands.
“harder street battles continue, with different degrees of success Heidi said. “The situation is constantly changesBut the Ukrainians are repelling the attacks.”
Russia seems intent on that on Capture the entire eastern part of Donbass of Ukraine, which is made up of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Although the Kremlin’s forces have superior firepower, the Ukrainian defenders – among whom are the most trained in the country – are well established and have the ability to counterattack.
Refocus
Luhansk and the neighboring Donetsk province, known as Donbass, became Russia main Focus since the defeat of its forces in the suburbs of Kyiv in March and pushed back From second Larger city Kharkiv last Month.
Russia was pressing out of three main directions – east, north And the south – to try to encircle the Ukrainians in Donbass. Russia has made progressbut only slowly, failed to deliver a decisive blow or to encircle the Ukrainians.
Every night updateUkrainian military She said civilians were killed in Russian bombing in Donbass and Russian forces opened fire on more out of 20 communities, using artillery and air strikes.
in Druzhivka, in ukrainian jeep of Donetsk Province, the population was picking up debris of destroyed houses latest Bombing.
“Excuse me helpwe need materials for Surface, for The housethere people “Homeless” cried Nellia, outside to her home Where the roof was cut. “My niece has two small childrenShe had to cover one of to her children with hers body. “
Nearby, she chose Nadezhda up A children’s pink photo album and kindergarten exercise book from under the rubble of to her house and put them on The shelf somehow still stands in rubble.
“I’m not even know to where start. I’m standing here looking but I have no idea what to do. I start Cry, calm down downThen I cry again. “
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what you call itspecial military process” for sealing out What it sees as threats to its security. Ukraine and its Western allies call This is a baseless excuse for War to seize territory.
continuous bombardment
Britain defense Ministry said on Tuesday that Russia is still trying to cut off Severodonetsk by progressing from north near Izium and to the south near Popasna. He told Russia progress From Popasna has discontinued over The last week, while reports of Heavy shelling near Izyum indicated that Moscow was preparing for a plane new offensive there.
Russia will almost certainly do so need to make a breakthrough on at least one of These axes translate Tactical gains at the operational level success And the progress towards its political goal of control everything of Donetsk Oblast”.
The governor of the Donetsk region, Pavlo Kirilenko, told Ukrainian television that there was continuous shelling along the front line. with Russia is trying to advance towards Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, the two largest cities controlled by Ukraine in Donetsk.
Kirilenko said efforts are underway to evacuate people From several cities, some under attack Day and night, including in Sloviansk where about 24,000 residents live, around a quarter of The populationresident remain.
“People now understand, although it is late, that it is time to leave,” he said.
Ukraine one of The world’s largest exporters of grain and western countries accuse Russia of creating The risk of global Famine closes the ports of Ukraine on the Black Sea.
Zelensky said Kyiv She was gradually receiving “specific anti-ship systems”, and that these would be best way To break the Russian blockade of Ukrainian ports.
Moscow denies the blame for Its food crisis says I was caused Western sanctions.
Russia’s envoy to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia out of United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday European Council President Charles Michel, addressing the 15 members bodyMoscow accused of kindling global food crisis with that it invasion of Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow would respond to Western supplies of long-range Weapons by pushing Ukrainian forces even further back from the borders of Russia.
