Russian bombardment is concentrated in Severodonetsk, a key point on the front of the Donbas (a region that encompasses Donetsk and Luhansk provinces) in eastern Ukraine, the governor of Luhansk said.
According to the AFP news agency, Luhansk Governor Serhi Haidai said in a televised speech on the 8th (local time) that “Severodonetsk is under constant shelling, but no one will give up the battle.”
“Everything is coming from mortar shells, enemy artillery fire and air strikes,” said Governor Haidai.
Ukrainian forces recently launched a massive counterattack in the area of Severodonetsk and reclaimed about half of the city, but have retreated to the outskirts of the city due to continuous Russian bombardment, Governor Haidai said.
“Our military only controls the outskirts of the city, but the battle is still going on and it cannot be said that Russia has full control of the city,” he said.
The British Ministry of Defense also analyzed the situation in the Severodonetsk area on the same day, saying, “It is difficult to judge that both sides have achieved meaningful results in the past 24 hours.”
“Russia continues to attempt to attack Severodonetsk from three directions,” he added.
Severodonetsk is a strategic point through which the Ukrainian army’s supply route passes in the Donbas region.
The Russian army, which has captured most of Luhansk Oblast, is focusing on the attack on Severodonetsk, and the Ukrainian army is desperately defending it as the entire Luhansk Oblast falls into Russian hands when Severodonetsk falls.
/yunhap news
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