Ukrainian troops withdraw from Severodonetsk, officials say

After weeks of fierce fighting, Ukrainian troops began to retreat from the besieged cityTo move to a stronger position in the eastern part of the country, regional officials said on Fridayfour-month markin the Russian invasion. rice field.

A relentless withdrawal from Sieviero Donetsk, the administrative center of the Luhansk region, has reduced most of the industrial city to rubble and reduced the population from 100,000 to 10,000. Came after the Russian bombardment. After a house-to-house battle with the Russians, Ukrainian troops withdrew to the huge Azot chemical factory on the edge of the city. There, about 500 civilians remain trapped in the vast underground structure where shelters were found.

Recently, Russian troops are making a profit around the neighboring city of Lysychans'k, on the steep bank across the river, to surround the Ukrainian troops.

Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk destroy all Donbus and the Ukrainian army that protects them — the most of the country's army Competent and combat-enhanced segment. The two cities and their surrounding areas are the last major pockets of Ukrainian resistance in the Luhansk region, 95% of which are under the control of Russian and local separatists. Russians and separatists also dominate about half of the Donetsk region, the second province of Donetsk.

Russia used the numerical advantages of its army and weapons to defeat Sieviero Donetsk in the war of attrition. , Ukraine sought better weapons from the West. The bridge to the city was destroyed, reducing the ability of Ukrainian troops to supply, strengthen and evacuate injured and others. Much of the city's electricity, water and communications infrastructure has been destroyed.

Governor Luhansk, Serhii Heidai, said Ukrainian troops were ordered to leave Sieviero Donetsk to prevent greater losses and move to a more fortified position. Roman Vlasenko, head of regional administration, said the withdrawal had already begun and would take several days.

"For now, Ukrainian troops are still in Sieviero Donetsk," Vrasenko told CNN. "They are now withdrawing from the city. It started yesterday."

"Unfortunately, we will have to pull our troops away from Severodonetsk," Haidai told The Associated Press. rice field. "It doesn't make sense to stay in a destroyed position, and the number of killed in action continues to grow."

A senior U.S. defense official speaking in Washington on condition of anonymity said on Friday. The Ukrainian movement was called "tactical retrograde" and integrated into a position where the army could be better defended. This will add to Ukraine's efforts to keep Russian troops in small areas longer, officials said.

Heidi was shrimped by some Ukrainian troops while the withdrawal was in progress. He stayed in Erodnetsk and said he was facing Russian artillery. Destroyed 80% of the building.

"As of today, Sibelodneck's resistance continues," Haidai told AP. "Russians have relentlessly bombarded Ukraine's position and burned everything down."

Heidi said the Russians were also heading from Zorote and Toshkifka to Rishchansik, a Russian reconnaissance. He added that troops invaded the edge of the city, but their defenders kicked them out. The governor added that the bridge leading to Lysychans'k was severely damaged by Russian airstrikes and could not be used for trucks. Ukrainian military analyst Oleg Zudanov told AP that some of the troops leaving Sieviero Donetsk are heading for battle in Lysychans'k.

According to other battlefield reports, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported on Friday that four Ukrainian battalions and a total of about 2,000 soldiers were "foreign mercenaries" near Hiruske and Zolote, south of Lysychans'k. The unit declared it "completely blocked". The claim could not be verified independently.

Following a failed attempt to occupy the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, in the early stages of the invasion that began in February. 24, the Russian army shifted its focus to Donbus. There, Ukrainian troops have been fighting Moscow-backed separatists since 2014. -A range of US rocket launchers have arrived,and four more are underwayUS senior defense officials said Friday that more Ukrainian troops had a high-mobility artillery rocket system. Said that he was training outside Ukraine to use. Or HIMARS, and are expected to return to their country with weapons by mid-July.

The rocket can travel about 45 miles. Eighteen US coastal and river patrol boats will also be sent. Officials said there was no evidence that Russia had succeeded in blocking the steady flow of military aid from the United States and other countries to Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly threatened to strike or actually strike such cargo.