Ukrainian army seeks to avoid Russian encirclement in Donbass
Ukraine is seeking to defend Lysychansk after Russia took almost all of the nearby strategic city of Severodonetsk.
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Ukrainian servicemen fire a BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system near the city of Lysychansk in Luhansk region on June 12. Photo: Reuters |
A day after Ukraine ordered its troops to withdraw from Severodonetsk, its military forces continued to defend the city of Lysychansk in the fight for control of the Donbass region.
Ukrainian armed units have been trying to seize the heights in Lysychansk, a city located on the other side of the Siverskyi Donets River from Severodonetsk and about the same size as Severodonetsk. The aim is to repel Russian advances and avoid being surrounded.
Russian troops have taken control of almost all of Severodonetsk in recent weeks, forcing Ukrainian leaders to order troops to withdraw from the stronghold on June 24. Severodonetsk is of political significance to both Russia and Ukraine, as it is the administrative center of the Luhansk region in Donbass.
Also on June 24, the leader of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, Leonid Pasechnik, announced that Russian military forces would surround all of Lysychansk in the coming days after blocking Ukraine's ground communications.
Despite continuing to receive weapons aid from the West, Ukraine is completely outgunned by Russia, especially artillery, in the fighting in Donbass. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted in an interview with NBC News (USA) that Russia has a “10 to 1” weapon advantage over Ukraine.
