Evacuations in Ukraine’s Severodonetsk disrupted by continued fighting

Kyiv, Jun 2 (EFE).- Heavy fighting on Thursday disrupted evacuations in Severodonetsk, the eastern Ukrainian city Russian troops have captured 80% of, local governor Serhiy Haidai said.

An estimated 15,000 people remain trapped in Severodonetsk in the Luhansk region, Haidai wrote in a Telegram message, urging people to stay in their shelters.

“The evacuation of Severodonetsk has been stopped. As for (neighboring) Lysychansk, it can be resumed, now we are observing the security situation,” Haidai said.

The Russians have intensified their attacks in eastern Luhansk, with Severdonetsk their main target.

But the governor pointed out that Ukrainian soldiers were counterattacking the Russian military in the city, the fall of which would give Moscow control over almost the entire Luhansk region.

“The situation is difficult but it is under control,” Haidai said.

“The Russians are trying to break through our defenses in all directions and are trying to get to Lysychansk,” which still, he said, remains under Ukrainian control.

int-lab/smq/jt