The residents of Ukraine City in Severodonetsk have now been effectively cut off from all countries with the last fall of the three bridges that connect it with its twin cities – Lysychansk. This means that Russia now controls the majority of the eastern region of Ukraine in Luhanansk Oblast, which is mostly inhabited by separatists.
Governor Severdonetsk Serhiy Haidai said evacuation and supply to the city now is not possible because the last bridge above the Siverskyi Donets river near Syrothne SE is no longer standing. In a telegram post, Haidai said: “Those left in the city are forced to survive in very difficult conditions”.
With the fall of the last bridge, the situation became very gloom for the remaining Ukrainian army who were still fighting in the city. Eduard Basurin, a military representative of the ‘People’s Republic of the Donetsk’ Pro-Russia, said, “The Ukraine Division that exists [in Severodonetsk] is there forever.” “They have to give up or die,” he said.
Most of Severodonetsk has been hit by Russian troops and the last civilian population, totaling around 500, including 40 children, hiding in the Azot Chemical Factory.
Last month, Russia lost almost all battalions in an attempt to fail to cross the Siverskyi Donets river. Hundreds of people were killed and dozens of armored vehicles were destroyed. The second of the three bridges above Siverskyi Donets was destroyed on June 11.
Unique strategies, such as blowing up bridges and flooding all villages to stop the progress of Russia, have become the main strategy employed by Ukraine. However, the last destruction of the bridge between Severodonetsk and Lysychansk has placed Ukraine in a tight place. It is still unclear whether Russia or Ukraine destroys the bridge.
Meanwhile, Russia said that his priority was the protection of the ‘People’s Republic of Donetsk’ and People’s Republic of Luhanssk’, which was recognized as an independent region by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 22, two days before the Ukraine invasion.
