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UK Defense Ministry says Russian air activity over Donbas “high,” causing “substantial collateral damage and civilian casualties”
Ukraine now controls round half the town of Severodonetsk in jap Ukraine after reclaiming some floor from the Russians, Serhiy Hayday, head of the Luhansk area army administration stated.
Hayday was responding to a query about an intelligence evaluation from the UK protection ministry, which predicted Russia would management the entire Luhansk area inside two weeks.
Two weeks is unrealistic. It is simply unreal,” Hayday stated Friday. “Earlier there was a troublesome state of affairs, and someplace round 70% [of Severodonetsk] was captured, now we now have already moved them again someplace round 20%.”
The Russians “had beforehand managed to seize many of the metropolis, however now our army has pushed them again. They’re actually struggling enormous losses,” he stated in additional feedback on Saturday.
“The troublesome state of affairs stays within the area as an entire, and Severodonetsk is now only a focus of hostilities as a result of the Russian military — as we perceive — is throwing all its reserves into this route,” Hayday stated.
At the moment the Ukrainian army lacks long-range artillery, which may very well be a sport changer for the battle within the east, Hayday stated.
“They’re shifting ahead step-by-step. They’re merely destroying every little thing with artillery, plane, mortars, tanks,” Hayday stated. “However as quickly as we now have sufficient Western long-range weapons, we are going to push their artillery away from our positions. After which, imagine me, the Russian infantry will simply run.”
Road fights proceed in Severodonetsk, and Ukrainian troops are nonetheless “attempting to push again the enemy,” he stated.
On Friday, the Russians “tried to encompass the Ukrainian troops” within the metropolis and neighboring Lysychansk, however have been unsuccessful. In complete, Ukraine repelled a complete of 9 assaults by the Russians within the Donbas area prior to now 24 hours.
Russia can also be blowing up bridges to forestall Ukraine sending in reinforcements to the area, Hayday stated.
“They’re actually afraid that the success of our defenders will develop, and this may be carried out if the ammunition, weapons and reinforcements are offered in time. That is the very first thing they’re afraid of,” Hayday stated. “Luhansk area is a large outpost for us, we’re holding it now.”
Round 30 km (18.6 m) south of Severodonetsk, three folks have been killed on Friday, together with a mom and little one, in Hirske, Hayday stated.
The humanitarian state of affairs in Severodonetsk is “very troublesome,” Hayday stated, as they’re at the moment unable to soundly evacuate folks or herald humanitarian help to the town.