Russia declares victory in Donbass

According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Russian forces control almost the entire province Lugansk. According to Ukrainian officials and military analysts, nearly half of the Donetsk region is also under Russian control.

After abandoning its attempt to capture Kiev two months ago, Russia declared the capture of the entire Donbass as its primary goal.

RT quoted Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as saying that Russia and its allies have made more progress in fully capturing Donbass. About 15 communities have been controlled, including Svyatogorsk, the town where Ukrainian forces are said to have set fire to a wooden monastery during their retreat last week.

Svyatogorsk lies on the left bank of the Severny Donets River and is claimed by the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) as part of its territory. Last week, the Skete of All Saints, a historic wooden monastery located in town, was burned and burned down. Russia accused Ukrainian forces of deliberately setting fires to cover up the retreat. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials blamed the Russian military for the incident.

On June 6, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that the Ukrainian army blew up a bridge in the same area, cutting off the shortest road connecting the northern region and the rest of the DPR territory. Svyatogorsk is located on the border between the two republics of Donbass.

According to Shoigu, Russian and allied troops captured 15 communities near the river when they attacked Ukrainian forces. Shoigu said it has “liberated” 97% of the territory claimed by the LPR.All settlements in Severodonetsk are now under Russian control and the fighting is limited to suburban industrial zones. With the continued surrender of Ukrainian soldiers, the total number of prisoners of war has reached 6,489, the minister said.

Severodonetsk is the seat of the Kiev-appointed government headquarters for the Lugansk region, an area disputed by the LPR – a self-proclaimed republic recognized by Russia. The city has seen intense skirmishes in recent weeks as LPR and Russian forces advance.

Officials in Kiev last week announced that Russian troops were allowed into the city ahead of a major counterattack. Sergey Gaiday, the head of Kiev’s allied government, said Ukrainian troops had at one point recaptured half of the city, but had to retreat after that.

Some experts believe that the events taking place in Severodonetsk resemble those in Mariupol, a major port in the territory now controlled by the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). The defenders of the city took refuge in Azovstal steel plant for weeks after being separated from the main Ukrainian forces, then finally surrendering. The same could happen to the garrison in Severodonetsk and the Azot chemical plant, analysts warn.

Minister Shoigu said Mariupol, which the DPR took over last month, is slowly returning to a peaceful life. The port has begun to receive cargo ships again, while infrastructure such as electricity and water is being restored.

The Ministry of Defense and Russia’s railway monopoly RZhD “have facilitated a complete reconnection between Russia, Donbass, Ukraine and Crimea,” Shoigu said, adding that shipments had already arrived in Mariupol, Berdyansk and Kherson. Berdyansk and Kherson are located in Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine. About 1,200km of railway has been restored.

Before Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine on February 24, Kiev said Moscow controlled about 7% of the country, including the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014 and areas held by separatists in Donetsk and Lugansk. Last week, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russian forces control 20% of Ukraine’s territory.

Speaking at a Financial Times conference on June 7, President Zelensky said he was still willing to negotiate peace with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mykhailo Podolyak – an adviser to the President of Ukraine – urged people not to be disappointed in the situation of the battlefield turning around.

“Don’t let the news that we’ve made concessions scare you off. It is clear that tactical maneuvers are taking place. We give in, but we also get it back,” Podolyak said in a video message.