The Russians relied on “primitive tactics: heavy artillery fire and re-attacking”, known as scorched earth exercises.

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Russian troops control most of the city of Severodnetsk, where they resort to the tactics of Scorched earth with artillery, mortars and multiple missile launchers Fighting in parallel battles along Sloviansk, Russia’s next objective was to end Ukraine’s resistance. The General Staff of Ukraine insisted, “The occupiers carried out an operation to attack the city today, they were unsuccessful. Hostilities continue.”

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said Severodnetsk still remains Battle center in Donbso, in the east of the country, and the soldiers “defend their position”. “It is a very fierce battle, very difficult. Perhaps one of the most difficult in this war,” the president insisted, “in many ways, it is there that the fate of our Donbass is now decided. ”

changing situation

Situation in Severodnetsk, with neighbors Lisichansk, the last major stronghold under Ukrainian control in the Luhansk region, is variable and ambiguous. Yesterday, the province’s governor, Serhi Gaidai, confirmed that Kyiv troops “only control the city’s suburbs”, later indicating that “the industrial sector is also ours” and that “street fighting” is continuing in this central region.

What local officials have acknowledged is that Russian troops control much of the city, where, according to the mayor, alexander streakA third of the neighborhood has been devastated and where about 10,000 residents are still in a “nearly critical” humanitarian condition and there is no chance of evacuation.

“The silence in Severodnetsk lasts only as long as it takes to reload weapons”Gaidai, who condemned that the Russians resorted to “primitive tactics: heavy artillery fire and then an attempt to break through”, known as the scorched earth exercise. Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed that Russia was firing at troops “with mortars, artillery and missiles through multiple launchers”.

chemical plant attack

According to the governor, the enemy strongly attacked the industrial area, where last night he punished the chemical plant Azot, where some 800 people take refugeLike he said last week. At least two wings were damaged at different ends of the factory, one of them dedicated to ammonia production. Gadai explained today that no chemicals were released into the environment, as all fertilizer and chemical solutions were removed from the Azot area on the second day of the war, according to the owner. The bomb shelter “survived” and there were no casualties.

“If we quickly obtain Western long-range weapons, an artillery duel will begin and Russia will lose to the West and our defenders will be able to eliminate Severodnetsk in the first place.” two or three“On the presence of Russian troops, he emphasized. Ukraine is waiting for UK M270 launchers, which can fire precision-guided missiles up to 80 km, and US HIMARS, with similar ranges, to arrive in the Donbs .

Defense Minister of Ukraine, Oleksiy Raznikovsaid today that the Polish AHS Krab, a 155-mm self-propelled howitzer with a range of about 40 km, as well as weapons received from other partners, are ready for use on the front lines.

West, neighbors of Severodnetsk lisichansk It is still “under total control” of Ukraine, although Russia “chaotically bombs the city”, which is in a better strategic position than it is, according to Gaidai. The governor assured that there was no danger that Russian forces would encircle the Ukrainians in the region, among other things, as they did not yet control the road between Lisichansk and Bakhmut, on which they continued to rage. do bombings.

The battle for Sloviask begins

Russian troops from Severodnetsk and Lisichansk intended to cross the Donetsk region, where they continue their military activities in parallel SviatohirskRecently captured, and west of Lim.

According to the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia’s goal will be to combine these operations with which were done in the southeast of Izium And proceed to Sloviansk. The pro-Russian forces of the self-declared People’s Republic of Donetsk confirmed today that they are already immersed in the battle for Sloviansk, which, together with Kramatorsk, is the main objective of the Russian military in the Donetsk.

“The Battle for Sloviansk takes place”, confirmed the pro-Russian military command on its Telegram channel. Last Sunday, separatists said they were about 16 kilometers from Sloviansk, a major city in Ukraine’s military stronghold Kramatorsk, in the vicinity of which the Russians launched a missile strike today.

recovery of areas in the south

At the same time, in the south, the Russian armed forces are intensifying their actions along the borders of the region. Gerson – captured for the most part by Russian troops – and Mykolaivo, “Russian forces, according to the General Staff, are trying to curb Ukrainian efforts to regroup and strengthen units in the Kherson region and prevent further Ukrainian counterattacks,” the ISW said.

The Ukrainian military command said today that, “as a result of successful Ukrainian counterattacks in the direction of Kherson, the occupiers temporarily lost part of the occupied territories”, without revealing further details. In addition, Russian forces concentrate their artillery fire and ground attacks in the northeast of the area. zaporiaNear the border with Donetsk province, about 80% controlled by the Russian military.