Intense fighting has been reported around the Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk, as Russian forces appear to be stepping up their offensive to surround their Ukrainian defenders.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the eastern provinces of Luhansk and Donetsk – commonly known as Donbass – were turning into “hell” and warned that what he called the “last stage of the war” would be the bloodiest.
“In Donbass, the occupiers are trying to increase the pressure. There is hell and it is not an exaggeration, “Zelenski said. “The brutal and absolutely senseless bombing of Severodonetsk … 12 killed and dozens wounded in just one day. The bombing and shelling of other cities, the air and missile strikes of the Russian army – all this is not just military action during the war.
According to many sources, Russian troops were pushing west from the Russian-occupied city of Popasna and were also trying to advance north of Severodonetsk. There was speculation that their original goal was to cut off one of the main supply routes for Ukrainian defenders in the area, who were outnumbered by Russian forces. Severodonetsk and Ukrainian forces there are particularly vulnerable, with Russian forces threatening from three sides.
Russia has turned Donbass into hell, says Zelensky – video
According to the governor of Donetsk Pavlo Kirilenko, the town of Bakhmut, west of Popasna, is subject to constant air strikes. Severodonetsk was also under heavy attack. Its mayor, Alexander Struck, said 12 civilians had been killed in the last day and up to 15,000 civilians had taken refuge in the city’s bomb shelters.
The Institute of War, a think tank, said it was “stepping up” Russian operations north and west of Popasna in “preparations for the offensive against Severodonetsk”.
The Ukrainian General Staff said 260 troops withdrawn from the Kharkiv region had arrived to make up for significant combat losses, and telephone conversations between newly arrived Russian troops suggested they were “shocked by the intensity of fighting there” compared to what have had. seen around Kharkov.
British military intelligence said on Friday that Russia is likely to step up operations in Donbass after finally securing the southern port city of Mariupol, the scene of a week-long siege and Russia’s most significant success in an otherwise volatile campaign.
It says about 1,700 troops may have surrendered at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, according to a similar number released by Moscow on Thursday.
Ukrainian authorities declined to comment on the issue, saying it could jeopardize rescue efforts.
The commander of the Azov Regiment, which is defending the steel plant, said in a video released on Friday that civilians and severely wounded fighters had been evacuated from the site, without giving further information on the fate of the other defenders.
“We were constantly emphasizing the three most important conditions for us: civilians, wounded and dead,” Lt. Col. Denis Prokopenko said in a video shared in the Telegram news app. “Civilians have been evacuated. The seriously injured received the necessary assistance and were evacuated to be exchanged and delivered to Ukrainian-controlled territory.
The US Senate has pushed for a $ 40 billion package of military, economic and food aid to Ukraine, putting a two-party stamp on America’s biggest commitment yet to turn the invasion into a painful quagmire for Moscow.
The bill was approved 86-11 on Thursday, backed by every Democrat who voted and most Republicans. Now the package goes to Joe Biden to be signed.
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“I applaud Congress for sending a clear bipartisan message to the world that the people of the United States stand with the brave people of Ukraine as they defend their democracy and freedom,” Biden said in a written statement.
Zelenski thanked the United States. “This is a demonstration of strong leadership and a necessary contribution to our common defense of freedom,” he said in an evening video address to Ukrainians.
Agence France-Presse contributed to this report
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