The governor of Luhansk Oblast in eastern Ukraine, Serhiy Haidai, said that Russian troops had destroyed all three bridges connecting Severodonetsk, a key city in the oblast, and the neighboring city of Lysychansk across the Donets River.
He announced this on social networking sites. In an attempt to isolate the Ukrainian army, which is fighting the war from its base in an industrial area, the situation is turning out to be similar to the situation in the southeastern city of Mariupol, where a siege at a steel mill has been ongoing.
Russians had just destroyed a second bridge. Haidai explained, ” the bombardment continues at all hours of the day. The mayor of Severodonetsk stressed that routes leading out of the city were being maintained.
In the industrial zone is the Azotho chemical plant, which is believed to be the largest in Europe, and approximately 550 residents, including about 40 children, are reportedly sheltering in an underground facility. However, the city is also preparing for a nuclear attack.
However, the plant is not as robust as the Azovstari Steel Plant in Mariupol. The Russian Defense Ministry unilaterally announced that a “humanitarian corridor” would be established to evacuate residents and called on soldiers to surrender.
A senior official of the General Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry pointed out in a recent interview with The Guardian that the Russian military can continue the war for another year at the current pace of attack without having to manufacture new weapons. The official is increasingly concerned that once the Russians gain control of the area, it will be difficult for them to retake it.
