The head of the civil military administration in the beleaguered Ukrainian industrial city of Severodnetsk, Alexander Stryk, said on Saturday that Ukraine’s military was in a “tough defensive position” as fighting raged on the city’s outskirts.
In commentary on national television, Streak said some of the most intense fighting was centered around the Mir Hotel on the outskirts of the city.
“A real fight can be heard in the main bus station area,” he said. “Our army is in a difficult defensive position. There is continuous shelling in the city. The humanitarian headquarters located in the city was practically immobile today, as it is not safe to move around the city, and the work of the headquarters was suspended. ,
Streak described a dire situation, saying there were no mobile telephone communications and that the power had been cut. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address on Saturday that the time to liberate Ukraine “gets shorter” every day, and that it is “just a matter of time before Ukraine withdraws Russian gains”. “.
“We supplied water to the city with the help of electricity, pumping stations,” he said. “The water that is available is from open wells with generators. There are about six to seven wells in the city. It is extremely dangerous, as soon as people gather for water, the shelling starts there.”
However, Streak expressed some confidence that the city would be able to get out with some limited supplies on the road.
There are still opportunities to reach the city,” he said. “There are opportunities for the delivery of minimal loads. It is extremely difficult, but still possible.
“Evacuation is very unsafe, some people, priority for the injured. Only elementary level medical care is available in the city.”
In a statement, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine claimed that Russian forces had suffered losses and had retreated to some previously occupied positions in the direction of Severodnetsk, but added that the Russians had identified elements. The reconnaissance of the area to strike and strike was continued. of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Fedir Venislavsky, a member of the National Security, Defense and Intelligence Committee of Ukraine’s parliament, said the next few days would be “decisive” in the Battle of Severodnetsk.
“Our forces pushed the enemy back to the position it was in before,” he said. “But we must understand that Russian troops are practically on the outskirts of Severodnetsk.”