Ukrainian forces will "have to withdraw" from the city of Severodonetsk, much of which is under Russian control, Ukraine's Luhansk Oblast Governor Serhiy Gaidai said today, Reuters reported.

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Severodonetsk fought some of the heaviest battles since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

There have been street fights in the city for a month, and the Russian offensive is slow and painful.

"Ukrainian forces will have to withdraw from Severodonetsk. An order has been issued for this," Gaidai said, AFP reported.

However, the Ukrainian regional governor did not say whether the Ukrainian forces would be withdrawn immediately and what the withdrawal schedule would be.

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The battle for Severodonetsk is key for Russia, as a victory in it will allow Russian forces to establish control over the last territories in the Luhansk region, which are currently under the control of Ukraine, Reuters notes.

If Severodonetsk falls, the only city in the region that will remain in Ukrainian hands will be Lisichansk.

Earlier today, Serhiy Gaidai announced that Ukrainian forces had repulsed a Russian attack on the southern outskirts of Lisichansk.

However, despite the successful repulse of the Russian attack, control was lost over the key village of Mykolaivka, which is located near an important highway leading to Lisichansk, Gaidai said.

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