Russia's invasion of Ukraine: Ukrainian soldiers are forced to withdraw

Of:

Amanda Hällsten 

Published: Today 08.00 

Updated: Today 10.11 

NEWS 

Fierce fighting has been going on for weeks in Sievjerodonetsk. 

Now the Ukrainian military is ordered to withdraw. 

- To remain in positions that have been tirelessly bombarded for months does not make sense, says military chief Serhij Hajdaj. 

Fierce fighting has been going on for weeks in Sevierodonetsk in eastern Ukraine. 

Now Serhiy Hajdaj, head of the military in Luhansk, announces that the military in the city is ordered to withdraw, Ukrainian channel 24 reports (kanal 24). 

He describes the situation as "hell" and says that the Ukrainian forces face uninterrupted shelling. 

- To remain in positions that have been tirelessly bombarded for months does not make sense, he says to the channel. 

Sievjerodonetsk June 8. Photo: Oleksandr Ratushniak / AP 

Much of the city destroyed 

On his Telegram channel, he also states that 90 percent of the infrastructure in Sievjerodonetsk has been damaged or completely destroyed. 

When the Ukrainian forces will retreat and where they will be deployed instead is currently unclear. 

Fierce fighting has been going on for several weeks in the twin cities of Sievjerodonetsk and Lysytjansk. 

In early June(I början av juni), Ukraine stated that it had taken back part of Sevierodonetsk, which was then largely controlled by Russia.

At the same time, hundreds of civilians have tried to escape the fighting by hiding in bunkers under the chemical plant Azot. 

Additional gains for Russia 

The Ukrainian military said on Thursday that Russian forces had also taken control of the villages of Loskutivka and Rai-Oleksandrivka. 

 In its latest analysis (analys), the think tank Study of War (ISW) writes that the Russian forces have probably reached the southern outskirts of the city of Lysychansk. 

However, ISW does not believe that this is crucial for the end of the war. 

"These gains are unlikely to give Russian forces a decisive advantage in further operations in Ukraine," the analysis said. 

 

Sievjerodonetsk June 8. Photo: Oleksandr Ratushniak / AP

More deliveries to Ukraine 

On Thursday, it was announced that the United States will send more arms deliveries to Ukraine. Among other things, a further number of the rocket artillery system called "Himars" will be sent to the country.

The military support package from the United States is worth 450 million dollars, equivalent to around 4.6 billion kronor.