war in SeverodonetskA key stronghold for the control of the Ukrainian region LuganskIt enters a decisive phase after declaring that it controls Russia. “residential areas” The city where about 10,000 people still remain.
“Severodonetsk enclaves have been completely liberated,” the Russian Defense Minister said in a meeting with army personnel on Tuesday. Said. Sergei Shoigu.
Fight in the industrial zone
The Russian minister assured that there are still conflicts in the region.industrial area“The city with a population of more than 100,000 before the war and its “neighboring settlements”.
According to Shoigu, Russia today 97% of the region Lugansk is something the local authorities themselves recognize.
Representative of the separatist Lugansk People’s Republic in Russia, Rodion Miroshnik He also said today on his Telegram channel that the entire Severodonetsk enclave has been “liberated” and “cleared” from Ukrainian troops.
” driven out According to Miroshnik, they hid almost entirely from the industrial zone in the Nitrogen plant,” he said.
According to the source, Ukrainian forces also “They barricaded themselves at the airport.” From Severodonetsk, from where they carried out their artillery strikes.
Ukraine does not give up the city
Despite Russia’s statement about the progress in Severodonetsk, Ukrainian officials they don’t give up on the city and keep the fight going.
Chief of the General Staff Armed forces The country’s leader, in a statement on his Facebook account, confirmed that the armed clashes continue street by street with casualties from both sides.
In addition, the governor of the Lugansk region, Serhiy Gaidai, He assured that “the enemy continues to attack Severodonetsk”, where the conflict did not stop.
Mayor of Severodonetsk, Oleksandr StriukHe said on Tuesday that Ukrainian troops are doing everything possible to maintain their position in this city in the east of the country, where the situation is very complex.
“Our soldiers protect their positions, but the clashes do not stop”“Striuk told Ukrainian television.
A member of the Severodonetsk city council assured that the Russians had concentrated a large number of forces and artillery in the city. strategic importance For control of Lugansk.
The American Institute for War Studies (ISW) also includes in its analysis that Severodonetsk is now the scene of war. intense fighting, does not allow the real situation on the field to be known.
Consolidation control
ISW also Moscow To consolidate control over the occupied territories in Ukraine, where Russian passports began to be issued to citizens.
Therefore, pro-Russian authorities hersonHe proposed the possibility of holding a referendum in southern Ukraine today again on integration with Russia.
“I think that most likely there will be a referendum on self-determination on the territory of the Kherson region, and the next stage will be to hold regional elections and then work on legislation,” a representative of the established puppet authorities said through Moscow.
Also, in Zaporizhia, a Ukrainian region mostly controlled by Russian forces, officials close to Moscow confirmed Tuesday that arranging a public consultation on joining Russia is something that needs to be done. “In Discussion”.
At the same time, according to local sources, “You must first liberate the city of Zaporizhia with all its inhabitants”.
ask for more support
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday called for more Western help in defeating Russia. “on the battlefield”.
In an interview with the British “Financial Times”, the Ukrainian president said that his government was not willing to accept a “.recession“As the aim of the conflict is to regain control over the entire region occupied by Moscow.
“We outperform the Russians in motivation, “But we’re losing as teams and that’s why we can’t move forward,” he said.
He added that unless that team comes, Ukraine will have to spend. hard times” with many “wounded and hurt”.
Commenting on the statements of some Western politicians regarding the necessity of a ceasefire, Zelensky emphasized the following: no agreement can be reached behind Kiev.
The Ukrainian leader believed that the sanctions imposed on Moscow so far were also correct. “Didn’t have much of an impact” He called for greater pressure on the Kremlin, particularly through a total embargo on oil and gas imports.