Kyiv Russian attacks in eastern Ukraine

Kyiv: Russian attacks in eastern Ukraine

That attack was repelled near Berestowe, in the Donetsk region, he said. As is often the case, military information could not be independently verified. Heavy Russian artillery fire was reported from almost all sectors of the eastern and southern front.

Moscow had already issued an ultimatum to the remaining Ukrainian soldiers in disputed Severodonetsk. They must “give up their senseless resistance”, lay down their arms and surrender by Wednesday morning, according to sources that cannot be independently verified. Meanwhile, following the destruction of the last strategically important bridge to the city, efforts were made to evacuate the trapped people, according to sources in Kyiv.

“The situation is very difficult, but there is still communication with the city,” Mayor Olexandr Strjuk said on Tuesday. “Russian troops are trying to invade the city, but the military is resisting.”

The governor of the Luhansk region, Serhiy Hajdaj, had previously declared that an evacuation of the city, which originally had a population of just over 100,000, was impossible after the bridge was destroyed. The Ukrainian military said Russian troops were trying to gain a foothold in central Sieverodonetsk. At the same time, they prepared offensives in cities west of Sieverodonetsk, such as Sloviansk.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that the battle for Donbass in eastern Ukraine would be one of the most brutal in European history. “For us, the price of this battle is too high. It’s scary.” According to its own statements, Ukraine is losing 100 to 200 soldiers every day.

The situation in Severodonetsk has deteriorated extremely, Hajdaj explained on Telegram. “The Russians are destroying skyscrapers and azot,” he added, referring to the chemical plant in the city. According to Ukrainian sources, more than 500 civilians sought shelter in the facility’s bunkers. The situation is reminiscent of the situation in the port city of Mariupol, where civilians waited weeks at a steel mill with wounded Ukrainian fighters.

According to Russian news agency RIA, a spokesman for the pro-Russian separatists said that Ukrainian troops were practically surrounded in Sievarodonetsk. You must surrender or die. On Monday, Russian troops destroyed the last bridge linking Sieverodonetsk across a river to the Ukrainian-controlled twin cities of Lysychansk. The two cities are located in the Luhansk region, which together with the Donetsk region forms the Donbass in Ukraine, which has recently been particularly competitive.

According to the US government, Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to continue conquering large parts of Ukraine. “I still think he caught a glimpse of a significant part of Ukraine, if not the whole country,” US Defense Secretary Colin Kahl said at an event hosted by the think tank Center for New American Security. However, Russia will not be able to achieve this goal. “Maybe they can make tactical gains here and there,” Kahl said. However, the Ukrainians were steadfast.