Russia claims the Ukrainian city Severodonetsk after one of the bloodiest battles in the war

Russian troops take full control of the city of eastern UkraineSievierodonetskon Saturday, with Kyiv's biggest battlefield retreat a few weeks later a month I confirmed that it continued. The bloodiest battle in the war.

Ukraine called the withdrawal from the city "tactical withdrawal" in order to fight from the hills of Lysychans'k on the other side of the Donets River. Pro-Russian separatists said Moscow troops are currently attacking Lysychans'k.

The collapse of Severodonetsk – once inhabited by more than 100,000 people, but now a wasteland – has beenRussiansince it occupied the port ofMariupollast month. 13} It was the biggest victory. It will change the eastern battlefield a few weeks after the great benefits of Moscow's firepower were only slow profits.

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Russia is now pushing the banks on the other side and trying to occupy more land, but Ukraine is Moscow Expects the price paid to occupy the ruins of a small city, which will leave Russian troops vulnerable to counterattacks.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed at a video address that Ukraine will regain the lost city, including Severodonetsk. But acknowledging the emotional sacrifice of the war, he said:

"The city is now under complete occupation of Russia," Severodonetsk Mayor Oleksandr Stryuk said on national television. "They are trying to establish their own order, as far as I know they have appointed a commander of some sort."

Ukraine's military intelligence director, Kirilo Budanov, told Reuters. Ukraine has said it is implementing a "tactical reorganization" by withdrawing troops from Severodonetsk.

"Russia has tactics Using ... Used in Mariupol: Wipe the city from the surface of the earth, "he said. "Given the conditions, it is no longer possible to maintain defense in the ruins and open fields. Therefore, Ukrainian troops are leaving for higher ground to continue their defense operations."

The Russian Ministry of Defense states that Russian troops have taken full control of Severodonetsk and the nearby town of Boribske "as a result of a successful attack operation". rice field.

Russia's Interfax news agency represents pro-Russian separatist fighters, saying that Russian and pro-Russian troops crossed the river into Lysychans'k, where they were fighting in urban areas. Was quoted.

U.S. President Joe Biden and other G7 leaders attending a summit meeting in Germany starting Sunday to ban new gold imports from Russia in search of further tightening of Russia's screws I would agree, Reuters said sources familiar with the matter.

'IT WAS HORROR'

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Ukraine-owned town of Donbus Elena of Pokrovsk, an elderly woman in a wheelchair from Lysychans'k, was one of the dozens of refugees arriving by bus from the front line.

"Lysychans'k, I was horror last week. I couldn't take it anymore yesterday," she said. "If I die, I've already told my husband, bury me behind the house."

The largest in Europe since World War II entered its fifth month As a land dispute, Russian missiles also poured into the western, northern and southern parts of the country.

Read more:  Russia was forced to withdraw as it tried to block the city of Rishchansik

Russian President Vladimirputin dispatches dozens of people On February 24, thousands of troops across the border killed thousands and unleashed a conflict that eradicated millions. It also caused an energy and food crisis that has shaken the world economy.

The focus shifts to the eastern territory of Donbus as the Russian army was defeated in the assault on the capital Kieu in March. I did. Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk in Luhansk and Donetsk were the last major Ukrainian fortresses in Luhansk.

Russians have recently crossed the river by force and are advancing towards Lysychans'k, threatening to surround Ukrainians in the region.

Russia may see the capture of Severodonetsk as evidence of a switch from an early failed attempt at the "Lightning War" to a relentless attack using eastern artillery.

Moscow states that Russia and Donetsk, which have been supporting the uprising since 2014, are independent countries. It requires Ukraine to ceded the entire territory of the two states to a separatist government.

Ukrainian officials have never had great hopes of retaining Severodonetsk, but have sought exactly enough height to run out of Russian troops.

Top Ukrainian General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi deploys the advanced HIMARS rocket system from the United States for the newly arrived Telegram app The Russian occupied territories of Ukraine.

Asked about a potential counterattack in the South, Ukrainian military intelligence director Budaniv told Reuters that Ukraine should start seeing results "from August."

Russian missiles also attacked elsewhere overnight. "48 cruise missiles. At night. All over Ukraine," Ukrainian presidential adviser Mihairo Podriak said on Twitter. "Russia is still threatening Ukraine and causing panic."

At a base near the Polish border, the governor of the Liviu region of western Ukraine said six missiles were launched from the Black Sea. Four hit the target, but two were destroyed.

In the north, the governor of the Zhytomyr region said at least one soldier was killed in a strike against a military target. Mayor Mykolaiv near the Black Sea said five cruise missiles attacked the city and its surroundings on Saturday.

Russia denies targeting civilians. Kyiv and the West say Russian troops have committed war crimes against civilians.

The war has a major impact on the world economy and Europe's security, pushing up gas, oil and food prices, reducing the European Union's dependence on Russia's energy and calling on Finland and Sweden to join NATO. I urged you.

Seven rich democratic groups are expected to show their support for Ukraine and discuss further measures against Russia at the summit.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson fears that Ukraine may face pressure to agree on a peace agreement and Putin's hand over to Ukraine could endanger international security. Said that.

(Additional report by Max Hunder, Alessandra Prentice, Reuters bureaux, Madeline Chambers, Written by Peter Graff, Edited by Matt Spetalnick, Peter Graff and Alistair Bell)

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