Listen to the news

Russian forces have established full control over the Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk, the Russian agency Interfax reported today, citing the Ministry of Defense in Moscow, Reuters reported.

Everything on the topic:

The Russian invasion of Ukraine 6130

Senior Ukrainian officials have previously said that Ukrainian troops withdrew from the city after prolonged fighting.

The eastern Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk has been besieged by Russian troops for weeks in an attempt by Moscow to seize it.

The occupiers have begun to impose Russian rule and have appointed a commander, Hunger Mayor Alexander Stryuk was quoted as saying by the Kyiv-based UNIAN news agency.

Ukraine has ordered the withdrawal of its troops from Severodonetsk

According to Stryuk, Ukrainian troops have already withdrawn from Severodonetsk and taken other positions, but did not specify which ones.

The mayor said there were still civilians hiding at the Azot chemical plant, which was the last stronghold of the Ukrainian resistance in Severodonetsk.

Russia's RIA Novosti news agency reported that Azot was already under the control of Russian troops and pro-Russian separatist fighters.

Before the war, the population of Severodonetsk was about 100,000.

The mayor said several thousand locals remained in the city.

TASS reported that units of the self-proclaimed so-called

The Luhansk People's Republic, with the support of Russian forces under the command of General Surovikin, completely liberated Severodonetsk and the village of Borovskoye.

Is Russia conducting a secret mobilization campaign?

Pro-Russian separatists say Moscow's forces are now attacking Lisichansk, the last major city held by Ukrainians in the Luhansk region and the twin city of Severodonetsk.

It is on the other bank of the Seversky Donets River.

The fall of Severodonetsk, now devastated, is Russia's biggest victory since conquering Mariupol last month, according to Reuters.

This changed the theater of operations in eastern Ukraine, after weeks in which Moscow's great firepower advantage brought it slow progress. 

The Russian invasion of Ukraine