After the fall of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, it now seems it is the turn of the east of the country. The Russian offensive in Luhansk and the Donets basin is intensifying. In the latter region in particular, the battle seems to be intensifying.
Ukrainian armed forces say they repulsed at least nine attacks in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions on Saturday. They also allegedly destroyed five tanks and ten armored cars. Especially in Luhansk, the battle seems to be getting fiercer.
According to Ukrainian governor Serhiy Hayday, the city of Severodonetsk has been under fire for days, resulting in deaths and injuries. “The Russians are destroying Severodonetsk just like Mariupol,” he told Telegram.
Hayday also reports that a bridge between Severodonetsk and Lysychansk has been destroyed. Lysychansk is located on the other side of the river Severski Donets. This would make humanitarian aid and evacuations from the area more difficult.
In his daily nightly video message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the situation in the Donets Basin is “extremely difficult”. According to him, the Ukrainian army is holding out in Sloviansk, among others, except in Severodonetsk. There has also been heavy fighting there in recent days.
