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For weeks now, Severodonetsk has been the focus of Russian military bombardment of Ukraine, with reports suggesting that about 70% of the city is currently under Russian control.
Severodonetsk and its twin city, Lysychansk, form an important regional and industrial hub in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine.
The capture of the two cities would give Russia control of the entire Luhansk region, parts of which are already controlled by Russian-backed separatists. The ‘twin’ cities lie above the strategic Siversky Donets River, while the main central sector 90 km long (56 miles) of Russia’s front line lies west of the river.
The governor of the region says the third of the three bridges in the city was destroyed today, a day after the second. With Russian-controlled areas north, east and south of Severodonetsk, this significantly reduced access to and from Ukrainian-controlled areas.
Regional Governor Serhiy Haidai has said he believes Lysychansk, which is located on higher ground, is of more strategic importance and that the Russians have also targeted the road from Bakhmut to the two cities.
Only about 15,000 people, out of a pre-war population of 100,000, are believed to still be in the city. With heavy shelling and intense street fighting continuing, evacuation is impossible at the moment, with the situation described as “extremely difficult”.
Luhansk and the neighboring Donetsk region – stretching from Mariupol in the south to the northern border with Russia – make up the Donbas, whose so-called “liberation” is currently Russian President Putin’s top priority.
Russia’s military success in Donbas could lead to Moscow’s annexation of the entire region, US officials believe.
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