Ukraine announced to take back 20% of the territory of Severodonetsk from Russia
The governor of Lugansk said that Ukrainian forces counter-attacked and regained 20% of the Russian-controlled area in the eastern city of Severodonetsk.
“Previously Russia controlled 70% of the area, but now we have repelled the Russian army, regained 20%,” said Serhiy Gaidai, governor of Lugansk, on June 3, about the situation in the city of Severodonetsk in the province. this.
He described how the Russians continuously shelled Ukrainian positions for hours and then advanced, but were repelled by Ukrainian defenders. The tension is repeated.
“This is how the Russians attack. They use artillery, planes, mortars, destroy everything,” he said. “But as soon as we have enough long-range Western weapons, we will repel the enemy’s artillery. Then, believe me, the Russian infantry will flee.”
In the television interview aired today, Gaidai said that Russian forces blew up the bridge over the River Siverskyi Donets to prevent Ukraine from sending reinforcements and providing aid to civilians in Severodonetsk. “The Russian military is pouring all its power into Severodonetsk,” he said.
Members of the foreign volunteer unit fighting in the Ukrainian army take up positions in Severodonetsk June 2. Image: Reuters
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on June 3 that Russia was consolidating its forces to prepare for an offensive on Sloviansk, a city in the Donetsk region. Kramatorsk, the neighboring city, is the largest metropolitan area in Donetsk still controlled by Ukraine.
Russia is concentrating up to 20 combat battalions near Sloviansk. The Russians had previously attacked Barvinkove and Sviatohirsk, two towns north and west of Sloviansk, but were unsuccessful. Russia has not captured any more areas of the territory that Ukraine is defending, including Bakhmut, Soledar and Lysychansk, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Fighting has also intensified north of Kharkov, where Ukraine has pushed back Russian troops in recent weeks. Kiev says Russian forces are trying to hold back Ukrainian forces moving towards the border and continue to use planes, artillery, multiple rocket launchers, mortars and tanks.
Russia has not commented on these reports.
Frontline of the Eastern Ukraine battlefield. Graphics: Washington Post.
Lugansk and the neighboring province of Donetsk form the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine, an industrial center with many factories and coal mines. It has been the scene of sporadic fighting since 2014, when pro-Russian separatists took control of territories and established the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic.
Severodonetsk and the city of Lysychansk are two of the last points in Lugansk where the Ukrainian military is present. If Russia controls this city, it will have an important springboard to push west and target Kramatorsk, where Ukraine’s Donbass regional military command is located.
The British Ministry of Defense said on June 3 that Russian forces were achieving “tactical success” in eastern Ukraine and could take full control of the Lugansk province within the next two weeks.
Hong Hanh (Follow Reuters/CNN)
at Blogtuan.info – Source: vnexpress.net – Read the original article here
