Sievierodonetsk completely controlled by Ukrainian authorities – Haidai

"Sievierodonetsk is completely controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. The Armed Forces of Ukraine hold the defense. But the situation is very difficult. We see the Russians throwing all their forces to either capture Sievierodonetsk or lay siege to the government-controlled part of Luhansk region," Head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration Serhiy Haidai said during the nationwide telethon, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

In Luhansk direction, he said, there are 25 Russian battalion groups, each numbering up to 500 people, totaling 10,000 troops at least, as well as huge amount of equipment.

Haidai clarified that “there are no battles in Sievierodonetsk. There are battles on the outskirts, because sometimes it is possible to achieve some success in certain areas, in the villages near Sievierodonetsk, but there are no battles in the town itself."

According to the Head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, the shelling of Sievierodonetsk has increased manifold, and the invaders may make a breakthrough, but the Ukrainian troops hold strong defense.

"They [invaders] may succeed somewhere, but our guys are very motivated, they stay there, there have weapons. Today we have been defending for exactly three months. Three months have passed, and they [Russians] unable get through even a small part of Luhansk region. We will hold it as long as necessary, "Haidai said.

As reported, Luhansk region is under constant Russian fire. Many residential buildings, infrastructure facilities, educational institutions have been destroyed and hospitals have been damaged. Until recently, about 40,000 civilians stayed in the region refusing to evacuate.

ol