Ukrainian troops withdraw from the last stronghold in Donbass

A few days ago, Ukrainian forces launched a counter-offensive, retaking almost half of Sievierodonetsk, but Lugansk Region Governor Serhiy Haidai told RBC-Ukrainian media that, as Russia began to flatten the city with shelling and air strikes, there is no point in staying.

“Our forces now control only the outskirts of the city. But the fighting is still going on, we are defending Sievierodonetsk, it cannot be said that the Russians completely control the city,” Haidai said.

Haidai acknowledged the difficulties for Kiev’s forces, telling the AP news agency that the Russian military has everything – artillery, mortars, tanks, planes – in Sievierodonetsk “to erase the city from the Earth” land and full control”.

Mr. Haidai pointed out that Ukrainian forces could withdraw to more defensible positions, such as Lysychansk, a city across the River Siverskyi Donets, located on higher ground. Previously, Mr. Haidai suggested that Kiev’s forces retreat to avoid encirclement.

After weeks of focusing attacks on eastern Ukraine, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on June 6 that Russia now controls 97 percent of the province. Lugansk. Sievierodonetsk was the last major city in the region that was not occupied during Moscow’s three-and-a-half-month offensive.

Shoigu said that the Russian army is also advancing towards the town of Popasna and has taken control of Lyman, Sviatohirsk and 15 other towns in the region.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky praised the efforts of the Ukrainian army in the eastern region Donbasssaid that Russia did not expect such strong resistance.

Both Russia and Ukraine claim to have inflicted massive casualties on each other.

According to Shoigu, 6,489 Ukrainian soldiers have been taken prisoner since the start of the military operation in Ukraine on February 24, including 126 in the past few days.

On June 7, a Pentagon spokesman announced, America has begun training Ukrainian troops in the use of advanced missile systems sent to Ukraine as part of a $700 million aid package approved last week.

Marine lieutenant colonel Anton Semelroth said training in the use of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) was taking place in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. The HIMARS system can carry six missiles with a range of about 70 km.

Meanwhile, Norway has trained Ukrainian soldiers in Germany how to use the M109 self-propelled howitzers that the country supplied to Kiev.