Russian troops storm Severodonetsk city, push Ukrainian forces back as fighting rages on

Russian forces on June 13 fired Kalibr cruise missiles and destroyed a large arms depot containing US and European weapons, and stormed furr into strategic Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk. Causing major damages via heavily shelling on twin city of Lysychansk, Moscow’s soldiers pushed Ukrainian forces out as battle intensified in Ukraine's contentious eastern Donbass region. 

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy h earlier said in a recorded dress labelled Severodonetsk city as “epicenter” of battle for Donbass that would dictate fate of war. “This is a very fierce battle, very hard, perhaps one of most difficult of entire war,” he h said. 

Ukrainian presidential press office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy listens to a report close to front line in Donetsk region of Ukraine during Russia's invasion. Credit: Associated Press

'Epicenter' of confrontation in Donbass

On Monday, as Ukrainian army defended its strategic positions and street fighting ensued. Russian soldiers managed to vance into Popasna, and areas of Siverskyi Donets river, Serhiy Haidai, governor of Luhansk region that runs along with neighbouring Donetsk region said on messaging app Telegram.

" situation remains difficult. Fighting continues, but unfortunately, most of city is under Russian control. Some positional battles are taking place in streets," said Haidai. He accused Russian soldiers of deploying "highly destructive rmobaric rocket artillery” to incur losses on Ukrainian armed forces as latter appealed to West for more weaponry to counter Russian artillery. 

Ukraine man cries over body of his girlfriend killed by shelling in Kalininsky district of Donetsk, on territory which is under Government of Donetsk People's Republic control, eastern Ukraine. Credit: Associated Press

"Unfortunately, enemy artillery is simply dismantling floor-to-floor buildings that are used as shelters,” governor of Luhansk region informed. “In this sense,” he stressed, “it is difficult because enemy will be knocked out of one street, and n y will start dismantling neighbourhoods house by house with tanks, artillery and grs.” Ukrainian forces in Severodonetsk have to concentrate to new attack positions, governor informed.

"Severodonetsk remains epicenter of confrontation in Donbass," Zelenskyy also agreed in a recorded video. "This is a very fierce battle, very difficult ... Probably one of most difficult throughout this war,” he said. Russian forces entering Severodonetsk with force is dictating fate of entire sprawling industrial region in eastern Ukraine, president of Ukraine stated. fighting in Donbass has been going on for eight long years since 2014, and Russian-backed separatists have seized control of two territories of self-declared Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic.