 |
| Russia Takes 80% of the City of Severodonetsk and Cuts the Escape Path |
International Military - Russian troops have captured about 80% of the fiercely contested city of Severodonetsk in eastern Ukraine and have destroyed all three bridges leading to it. Even so, Ukraine is still trying to evacuate those injured.
The governor of the eastern Luhansk region, Serhiy Haidai, acknowledged that a mass evacuation of civilians from Severodonetsk was now "impossible" due to artillery fire and relentless fighting. Ukrainian troops have been pushed to the industrial outskirts of the city because of "scorched earth methods and heavy artillery used by Russia." "There are still opportunities for evacuation of the injured, communication with the Ukrainian military and local residents," he said by telephone, adding that the Russian army had not completely blocked the strategic city as reported by The Associated Press, Wednesday (15/6/2022).
According to Haidai, about 12,000 people remain in Severodonetsk, out of the pre-war population of 100,000. More than 500 civilians took refuge in the Azot chemical plant, which was attacked by Russia. "In all, 70 civilians were evacuated from the Luhansk region on the last day," the governor said.
Meanwhile, a Russian general said a humanitarian corridor would be opened today to evacuate civilians from the Azot factory. Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev said the refugees would be taken to the city of Svatovo, 60 kilometers to the north in an area under the control of Russian and separatist forces.
He said the plan was made after Ukraine called for an evacuation corridor leading to the territory it controls. Mizintsev, head of the National Defense Management Center, is accused by Ukraine of human rights abuses while leading troops during the long siege of Mariupol, Ukraine's main port on the Sea of Azov, which has been taken over by Russia.
Read Also: Update News Russia-Ukraine War, Russia Blows Up Ukraine Severodonetsk Bridge
Russian troops have in recent weeks been pressing hard to seize the Donbas industrial area of eastern Ukraine, which borders Russia and comprises the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. "Losing, unfortunately, hurts, but we have to endure," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video speech on Tuesday night.
“The more losses the enemy suffers there, the less power one has to have to continue the aggression. Therefore, Donbas is the key to determine who will dominate in the coming weeks." In the northeastern region of Kharkiv, the Russian army is trying to strengthen its position and Ukrainian troops there are also suffering painful losses, Zelensky said. "And we still need to fight, fight hard for the full security of Kharkiv and the region," he said.
According to an intelligence update by the British Ministry of Defense on Tuesday, Russian troops appear to have made little progress in the Kharkiv region for the first time in weeks.
Read Also: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Accuses Russia of Trying to Destroy Every City in Donbas
Elsewhere, a Ukrainian regional military official said the country's air defenses shot down two Russian cruise missiles targeting the area around Odesa, Ukraine's main Black Sea port.