Severodonetsk in eastern Ukraine, which was the site of a fierce battle between Russian forces and Ukrainian forces, is now "largely" under Moscow's command, while Lyssychansk, its twin, is suffering "enormous destruction", according to the governor of the region.
Moscow forces "control large parts of Severodonetsk. We still control the industrial zone, and there are no Russians there. "The fighting is only occurring in the streets within the city," Sergiy Gaidai, governor for the Lugansk Region, stated on Telegram.
Lysytchansk, a neighboring city, is completely under the control of the Ukrainian army, but is still under "powerful, chaotic" bombardment Sergii Gaidai stated, accusing Russia of "deliberately” targeting hospitals and centers for humanitarian aid distribution. . He said, "They shoot with heavy calibre, the destruction it causes is immense."
Sergiy Gaidai, a Ukrainian official, had earlier Wednesday admitted that the Ukrainian forces may have to leave Severodonetsk soon due to Russian attacks and for better fortified positions.
Severodonetsk, the largest settlement in Ukraine's Lugansk (east) region, is where Russian soldiers made slow progress in recent weeks after being driven or withdrawing from other areas of Ukrainian territory including Kyiv.
Russian forces are currently trying to take over Donbass, an eastern Ukrainian mining basin formed by Donetsk and Lugansk. This area has been partly under the control of pro-Russian separatists from 2014.
