Ukraine’s North Donetsk Fully Occupied by Russian Forces

Ukrainian officials have stated that Russian forces have fully occupied the strategic front line in Lugansk, Severodonetsk, the Free Times reported on June 25.

The Free Times quoted Reuters as reporting that Oleksandr Stryuk, the mayor of North Donetsk, announced on television that “the city is now fully occupied by Russia, and Russian troops are trying to restore order.” “As far as I know, they have appointed some kind of commander.”

The governor of Ukraine’s Luhansk region, Gaidai, said via social media on the 24th that Ukrainian troops would withdraw from North Donetsk. The city had been 90% destroyed, and there was no point in continuing any longer.

In addition, reports indicate that the twin city of Lysychansk, located across the Siverskyi Donets River, is expected to face increased defensive pressure following the loss of Severodonetsk.

It is understood that Lysychansk is a stronghold the Ukrainian army has operated since the outbreak of the civil war in 2014. About 10,000 civilians in the city still have not yet evacuated. Therefore, whether to be able to hold is very critical. If the Russian army succeeded in occupying the Donbas region, the southern seaport city of Odessa could be the next target, as the outsiders also predicted.