The governor of the Luhansk region today (Friday) warned of a deterioration in living conditions in the city of Sverdonetsk, which was occupied by Russian forces two weeks ago. “In Severodonetsk, 80% of the houses were destroyed or damaged. Some people try to return, but they often find an empty apartment, even if it survived. After entering the city, the Russians first expelled part of the local population, took the keys, then started robbing everything. They travel. “In trucks for high-rise buildings. If the furniture is good, they take it. It’s not just household appliances,” he claimed.
“The city is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe – there is no water, gas or electricity supply. Since the end of February, the Russians have been shelling critical infrastructure facilities, they have destroyed them almost completely. They will not be able to repair anything. “Up to a year. If there are materials and skilled workers. The Russians have neither this nor that,” he added.
An estimated 15,000 citizens are still in the city. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed this week that its forces had completed the takeover of Luhansk Oblast in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, after capturing the city of Lisichensk. In Kiev denied the report: “Fierce fighting is taking place in several villages on the border of the region. The Russians are relying on tanks and artillery to advance, leaving scorched earth.”
The Ukrainian army confirmed that its forces had withdrawn from the city of Lisichensk, a few hours after the Russians announced that they had completed their takeover of the city and province. “Under the conditions of the superiority of the Russian occupation forces in artillery, aircraft, multi-shopping rocket systems, ammunition and manpower – continued protection of the city would have had fatal consequences. We will win again.”
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian army claimed that more than 40 towns and villages in Donbas had been attacked during the last 24 hours. It was also reported that Russian forces were advancing towards the cities of Ahmut and Slobansk in the center of the province.
“Ukraine will not give up territories for peace with Russia”
In an interview with the President of Ukraine yesterday, Volodymyr Zlansky, CNN made it clear that his country not giving up territories would not be part of any diplomatic negotiations to end the war. “The Ukrainians are not ready to hand over their land. This is our country,” Zlansky said, acknowledging that Russia controls “almost every region of Luhansk,” saying that its forces “are now fighting on the outskirts of this region.”
Asked if the war could end before the end of the year, Zalansky said, “Our country will remain united. If the weapons of our partners come to us in time, and if success is on our side, we can achieve many things before the end of the year and we can stop this war.”