Fierce fighting continues in critical city of Severodonetsk, Ukrainian officials say
From CNN’s Jonny Hallam
A damaged building is pictured in Lysychansk as black smoke and dirt rise from the nearby city of Severodonetsk during battle between Russian and Ukrainian troops in the eastern Ukraine region of Donbas, on Thursday. (Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images)
Ukrainian forces say the battle for the city of Severodonetsk continues to rage late on Thursday.
“The situation is consistently difficult. Our defenders are holding the line of defense, leveling the line of defense,” Serhiy Hayday, head of Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region military administration, said on national television.
“The fiercest fighting continues in Severodonetsk,” Hayday said. The city has seen intense battles in recent days.
Hayday accused the Russians of using “lies and propaganda” in claiming victory in the Severodonetsk.
While “the Russians had already reported that they had taken the city,” the official said, Russian forces had withdrawn some of their units.
Oleksandr Striuk, head of Severodonetsk’s military administration, said on television on Thursday that there is “constant street fighting.”
“The humanitarian situation in the city is critical. The bridge is under fire, so it is impossible to deliver goods. There is no water supply,” Striuk said.
“The Ukrainian Armed Forces controls approximately one-third of the city now,” he added, saying it will be “very difficult to liberate Severodonetsk [if it falls].”
Hayday said there are no direct battles in the neighboring city of Lysychansk, but he accused Russian forces of heavily shelling the area. If Russian troops took control of Lysychansk and Severodonetsk, it would place all of the Luhansk region under Moscow’s control.