Russia intensifies mortar, rocket fire in Severodonetsk
Kyiv, June 9 (EFE).- The Russian army has intensified its attacks on the positions that Ukraine still hold in eastern Severodonetsk, a strategic city that could give Moscow the key to all of the Donbas.
According to the daily report published by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Facebook, the Russians have used mortars, artillery and rocket launchers in the area in recent hours.
In addition to Severodonetsk, the Russian attacks have also affected other nearby towns in the same Donetsk region, such as Lysychansk, Pryvillya, Ustynivka, Hirske and Katerynivka.
Also in Donetsk direction, “the enemy, in addition to using artillery along the line of contact, fired a missile near the city of Kramatorsk,” it said.
Although the Ukrainians allege that, in some parts of this region, the local soldiers have in the past managed to force Russian troops to withdraw, Kyiv has recognized the strength of the Russians in this area where pockets of resistance are weakening.
The Ukrainian General Staff states in its latest report that, despite the strength of the attacks, “the enemy continues its unsuccessful search for weaknesses in the defense of the city of Severodonetsk.”
The Russians are also targeting their mortar attacks against civilian infrastructure in Chernihiv area, north of Kyiv, and in Sumy region, in the east of the country.
In Kharkiv, the second largest city in Ukraine and the capital of the region of the same name, Russians troops continue to mine the area to prevent Ukrainian counterattacks, it said.
“[Russia] is conducting intensive artillery shelling of our units to restrain the actions of Ukraine’s defense forces. In addition, the enemy fired on civilian infrastructure in the areas of the settlements of Staryi Saltiv, Rusky and Cherkasy Tyshky, Korobochkyne, Asiivka, Chepil’ and Uda,” states the report.
Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian troops repulsed seven enemy attacks in Donetsk and Luhansk directions, destroyed three enemy tanks, two armored combat vehicles and four other vehicles. Air defense units shot down six Orlan-10 drones.
“According to available information, the personnel of the 15th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade of the 2nd Combined Arms Army of the [Russian] Central Military District suffered significant losses in the fighting on the territory of Ukraine. Approximately 800 dead and about 400 wounded,” it said.
In total, about 1,800 members of this brigade took part in hostilities in the territory of Ukraine. EFE
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