The war for the Severdonets was one of the last major cities still in Ukrainian hands In Lugansk, eastern UkraineRussia’s war is turning out to be a turning point.
According to the governor of the Lugansk region, Russian troops are using the “burned earth” tactic in Severdonetsk and continue to bomb the area. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zhelensky has already warned Fighting is becoming more and more bloody in this part of the countryEvery day up to 100 Ukrainian soldiers die.
Mariupol captured the port cityBefore the war, Russian troops were trying to encircle the Chevrolet Donetsk, which had a population of about 100,000. Moscow is trying to gain control of the Donbass region, including Donetsk and Lukansk.
Matthew Schmidt, assistant professor of national security and political science at the University of New Haven (USA), says Russian forces are “using everything they have in that direction.” After failing at other key objectives, he continues, “they are focused on these tactical battles.”
According to Schmidt, Moscow had little effectiveness in the war, with large losses at the level of unit command, eventually forming “Frankenstein-groups”, which consisted of troops of different factions. Many of them are exhausted.
Schmidt says Russian forces “need a victory.” Moreover, they choose to crush the Ukrainians with bombs to achieve victory in the Severdonetsk because they do not have the authorities capable of conducting effective attacks against Ukraine. But the Russians’ “making way” could have devastating consequences for the public, as happened in Mariupol, the professor warns. “They are fair The Ukrainians must be crushed by artillery. “
Russian troops are focusing on efforts to “wipe Severodonetsk off the face of the earth,” which included firing on buildings while moving through the city streets, Lugansk Regional Governor Serhii Haidai said this weekend. The Washington Post These claims could not be verified independently.
“Everyday [as tropas russas] Is trying to break through the defensive line, ”Haidoi told the Ukrainian media in a telegram on Sunday. “There are bombings 24 hours a day. The Russian army has unfortunately chosen the burning earth tactic against the city of Chevrodonetsk: they are systematically destroying the city. There are constant bombings everywhere.
Ukrainian ombudsman Lyudmila DenisovaYour page, He denounced the city as becoming “the new Mariupol”.
Russian troops destroyed a bridge to the Severdonets on Saturday, making it very difficult to evacuate people and deliver supplies to the city. “If they destroy one more bridge, the city will unfortunately be completely isolated,” Haidoi announced Sunday. About 10,000 people live in Chevroletonetsk – one-tenth of the pre-war population – and most are “practically always in underground shelters,” he added.
For Moscow’s forces, Schmidt continues, it is very dangerous: the loss “will be catastrophic for morale and strategic position.” Even in the event of a victory, the high number of casualties and equipment losses can be costly. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces can retreat to a safe position from which they can continue to put pressure on Russia, he explains.
When asked by a Channel 24 reporter on Sunday if Russian troops would “calm down if the attack on Severodonetsk is successful”, Haido’s answer was clear: “No, of course not. The Russian army will only calm down when it calms down, that is, they will only stop where they are stationed.”
An exclusive public /The Washington Post
