Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that Severodonetsk “remains the epicenter” of Russia’s offensive in eastern Ukraine and the “fate” of the Donbas region “is being decided there.”
Ukrainian troops have been engaged with Russian forces in Severodonetsk for weeks. It is the last major city under Ukrainian control in the Luhansk province, the northern province of the Donbas region, according to reports. Zelensky said on Wednesday that Russia has suffered “significant losses” in the battle for Severodonetsk, but according to the governor of the region, Russia now controls “most” of the city.
RUSSIA CLAIMS UKRAINIAN MILITARY SUFFERING ‘SIGNIFICANT LOSSES’ IN DONBAS
“This is a very fierce battle, very difficult, probably one of the most difficult throughout this war,” the Ukrainian president said of the battle. “I am grateful to everyone who defends this direction. In many ways, the fate of our Donbas is being decided there.”
“We defend our positions, inflict significant losses on the enemy,” Zelensky added.
Most of the eastern Ukrainian city is now controlled by Russia, Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai said on Wednesday.
The governor explained in an interview with a Ukrainian news outlet on Wednesday that Ukrainian special forces had control of half the city earlier this week but were forced to pull back after Russia responded with heavy artillery and airstrikes.
“The Russians are destroying everything,” Haidai said. “They are firing tanks and artillery at residential buildings.”
The governor said the industrial zone of Severodonetsk is controlled by Ukraine, where Ukrainian troops have been sheltering beneath some of the city’s chemical plants, according to reports.
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According to Haidai, “90%” of the Luhansk region is controlled by Russian forces.
The mayor of Severodonetsk said last month that his city has seen at least 1,500 people killed since Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion and roughly 12,000-13,000 civilians remain in the city, which once had a population of over 100,000.
