Top regional officials claim that Ukrainian Troops have been ordered to leave Severodonetsk

UKRAINE — The Russian military has been bombarding the eastern city for weeks in an attempt to seize control of the region.

For many weeks, Severodonetsk has been bombarded by Russian troops, with Ukrainian forces being driven back to the city’s industrial areas in brutal fights.

Except for Lysychansk, the entire Luhansk region would fall under Russian control in the event of a Ukrainian retreat. As a Russian-speaking territory in the east of Ukraine, Luhansk has long been Vladimir Putin’s most important objective.

Together with the Donetsk region, the Donbas is a vast industrial area where a Russian-backed separatist movement has been active since 2014. 

Vladimir Putin bases his attack on Ukraine on the bogus notion that Russian speakers in the Donbas have been subjected to genocide. However, according to Ukraine’s accusation, the indiscriminate bombing and shelling by Moscow have resulted in genocide against Ukrainians. 

“Remaining in positions that have been relentlessly shelled for months doesn’t make sense… They have received orders to retreat to new positions … and from there continue their operations.” Serhiy Haidai, the regional head of Luhansk, told Ukrainian television. 

In the past few days, Russian soldiers have nearly ringed Severodonetsk and are also aiming at Lysychansk, which is the city’s twin.

Roman Vlasenko, the head of the Severodonetsk district, told Radio Liberty on Friday that Ukrainian troops remained in the city and that a retreat would take some time.

He went on to say that the city’s whole infrastructure had been devastated, with more than 90% of the homes being shelled and more than 80% being severely damaged.

In Severodonetsk, numerous individuals have sought refuge in the massive Azot chemical plant, which is thought to be home to hundreds of civilians. It had a population of about 100,000 prior to the conflict.

There are fears that Ukrainian forces could soon be encircled by Russian troops in the area, as the south of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk was taken over by Russian forces Thursday.

According to Serhiy Haidai, Russian forces would find it “extremely difficult” to take control of Lysychansk, which is located on a hilltop, because it has “several defensive positions.” Despite the fact that the roads and bridges leading into the city had been devastated, he claimed that residents were still being evacuated from Lysychansk and that help was still being supplied.