No way out for Ukrainians in embattled city as Russian forces destroy last bridge

By
Reuters
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A satellite image shows a close up view of a damaged bridge, in Rubizhne, Ukraine June 11, 2022.—Reuters
A satellite image shows a close up view of a damaged bridge, in Rubizhne, Ukraine June 11, 2022.—Reuters

  • Last bridge to Sievierodonetsk destroyed, says governor.
  • Ukraine seeks howitzers, tanks, and drones from the West.
  • Russia reports destroying some US and European arms.


Russian forces cut off all routes for evacuating citizens from the eastern Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk by destroying the last bridge linking it to a Ukrainian-held city on the other side of the river, a Ukrainian official said.

Russian troops were "trying to gain a foothold in the central part of the city", the Ukrainian military said on Tuesday in its daily roundup of the conflict in various parts of the country.

"The situation in Sievierodonetsk is extremely aggravated — the Russians are destroying high-rise buildings and Azot," Serhiy Gaidai, governor of the Luhansk region, said in a post on Telegram. 

A day earlier he said hundreds of civilians were sheltering on the grounds of the Azot chemical plant, which had been shelled by Russian forces.

Ukraine has issued increasingly urgent calls for more Western heavy weapons to help defend Sievierodonetsk, which Kyiv says could hold the key to the battle for the eastern Donbas region and the course of the war, now in its fourth month.

On Monday Gaidai had said on social media that some 70% of the city was under enemy control, and the destruction of the last bridge across the river to the twin city of Lysychansk meant any civilians still in Sievierodonetsk were trapped, and it was impossible to deliver humanitarian supplies.

The latest Ukrainian military situation report was filled with foreboding over Russian forces building up in several parts of the Donbas.

Ukraine needs 1,000 howitzers, 500 tanks, and 1,000 drones among other heavy weapons, Presidential Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said on Monday.

Russia's defence ministry said high-precision air-based missiles had struck near the railway station in Udachne northwest of Donetsk, hitting equipment that had been delivered to Ukrainian forces.

Ukraine's interior ministry on Telegram said that Udachne had been hit by a Russian strike overnight Sunday into Monday, without mentioning whether weapons had been targeted.