Russian forces have completely occupied Severodonetsk, as confirmed by the city’s mayor Oleksandr Stryuk on Saturday, 25 June.
On Friday, 24 June, Ukrainian forces reported having pulled from Severodonetsk to focus on the defence on Lysychansk.
Stryuk also reported occupants filming propaganda videos with civilians leaving bomb shelters located in Azot factory.
«Russia has completely occupied Azot. They are trying to enforce their rule now. As far as I know, they have appointed some ‘commandant’, who has started putting together some ‘active core’ of the new government there,» the politician reported.
He said the city is heavily damaged and it will be difficult for civilians to survive there.
The local hospital had put together reserves of medicines in advance.
He also said civilians have started leaving Azot factory, and that Russian forces have started filming propaganda videos with them.
Several hundred people were hiding in the bomb shelter located in the factory.
«These people spent approximately three months in bomb shelters and cellars. They are emotionally and psychologically exhausted. They need help, both psychological and medical,» said Stryuk.
Currently civilians can travel only to Russian occupied territories from Severodonetsk. It is not possible to evacuate people through contact lines, Stryuk said.
Luhansk municipal administration head Serhiy Haidai reported last Friday that Russian forces have nearly completely captured Severodonetsk. According to him, all critical infrastructure is destroyed, 90% of the city is damaged and 80% of houses will have to be demolished because they are beyond repair.
Last Sunday Russian forces performed missile attacks on Kyiv and its surrounding areas. A nine-storey apartment building was hit, officials report.
Another missile hit the territory of a kindergarten in Kyiv, according to Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs advisor Anton Heraschenko.
Three top floors of the apartment building have partially collapsed.
According to information from the Prosecutor General’s Office, four people have been hospitalized and one has died. 25 people have been evacuated from the building struck by the missile.
Oleksiy Honcharenko, member of the Ukrainian parliament, reported 14 missiles were fired by Russian forces on Kyiv and its outskirts.
Ukrainian air forces report missiles were fired from bombers in the Caspian sea region.