Click to see full-size image
As of May 31, Russian-led forces are in control of about half of the city of Severodonetsk. Advancing from the northern, nrth-eastern and south-eastern directions, thay have already repelled the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) from the residential areas on the outskirts of the city as well as from some central districts. Ukrainian units are retreating to the city of Lisichansk and reinforce their positions in a new fortress of the Ukrainian resistance, in the large industrial zone of the Azot chemical plant located in the western part of the city.
On May 31, the retreating AFU units blew up a container presumably with nitrogen at the Azot chemical plant in Severodonetsk. A large column of smoke was seen over the industrial zone of the city.
Click to see full-size image
The Ukrainian military have already carried out several chemical provocations in the Luhansk People’s Republic, including in the town of Rubezhnoe where large chemical plant Zarya is located. LINK
The provocations are likely aimed at blaming the advancing Russian-led forces of chemical attacks on Ukrainian territory. However, all the explosions were carried out in the areas under the AFU control and airstrikes in the claimed areas are never confirmed. As a result, such incidents do not gain the necessary attention of the Western media and only result in victims among the local residents who suffer from the Ukrainian terrorist warfare.
Unable to stop the Russian advance, the Ukrainian military are trying their best to delay the fall of the city under the LPR control, not disdaining any dirty methods, including chemical attacks, shelling on civilians and using them as human shields.
Despite, the efforts of the AFU, Russian-led forces have already taken control over half of the city. The videos shared by Russian-led forces from the residential areas in Severodonetsk confirmed that there were no more Ukrainian units in the center of the city.
The Palace of Culture and Gogol Park located in the central district came under Russian control. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are moving towards the industrial zone along the Himikov Avenue from the north and Gvardeisky Avenue from the east. The following video was made on May 30 near the fitness club Good Zone, located in the center of the city.
Russian servicemen capture the AFU positions located in residential areas of Severodonetsk. The video confirms that Ukrainian forces continue to establish their fortifications near the civilian buildings, using local residents as human shields.
Some units of the AFU are still hidding in residential buildings in Severodonetsk, firing at the areas left by Ukrainian forces. As a result, civilian infrastructure and local residents suffer from the Ukrainian attacks.
Ukrainian officials admit that Russian troops have already occupied the center of Severodonetsk. The head of the territories of the Luhansk People’s Republic which are still under the Kiev’s control confirmed that the Russian Armed Forces control most of the city. All supply routes leading to the Severodonetsk-Lisichansk metropolitan area are under fire control of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Evacuation from Severodonetsk and the delivery of goods there is extremely difficult due to the fire damage of vehicles trying to drive into the city.
As the major part of the residential areas in the city is already under the LPR control, the main battles broke out in the industrial zone, which was turned into another Ukrainian fortress, like it was the case of the Azovstal plant in Mariupol.
In general, the AFU units are retreating under fire in small groups to the Ukrainian positions in the city of Lisichansk which is located on the high western bank of the Seversky Donets River.
The assault on Lisichansk by Russian forces is complicated by the need to cross the river, as almost all the bridges between the two cities were destroyed by the AFU, as well as by the fact that Lisichansk is located on a hill in relation to Severodonetsk. As a result, Lisichansk is likely to become the main fortified area of Ukrainian resistance after the city of Severodonetsk fall without heavy clashes. In turn, Russian forces are expected to incircle the city of Lisichansk as well as the Azot chemical plant in Severodonetsk before the major assault. The region is already cut off from the military supplies from the west.
Today, the Kiev regime has the last opportunity to withdraw heavy equipment from the Severodonetsk region. Russian troops will try to close the trap within a week and the situation for the AFU will be critical. The Ukrainian military command should hurry up to organize a planned withdrawal of the equipment to Kramatorsk and Slavyansk. However, so far, it seems that the AFU grouping in Lisichansk is planned to defend the besieged fortress.
In turn, the People’s Militia of the LPR offers the remnants of Ukrainian nationalists in Severodonetsk to follow their colleagues and lay down their arms. The leaflets calling on the Ukrainian servicemen to surrender and avoid the unnecessary bloodshed are distributed over the city.
