Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the city as the “focus” of the battle for Donbass as the fighting raged, indicating that the struggle was “probably one of the most difficult in this war”. The city on the Siverskyi Donets River is one of the last major obstacles facing Russian troops as they try to take control of the self-proclaimed breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. The Pentagon said in a statement that Russian forces “did not move south of the city” as the fighting raged, adding: “Intense street-to-street fighting is ongoing and both sides are likely to suffer heavy casualties. “Russia is mobilizing fire with its artillery and air capabilities in an effort to crush the Ukrainian defenses.” The Foreign Ministry adds that Russia appears to have resorted to launching dozens of 1960s missiles intended to be used against aircraft carriers to attack ground targets instead. He adds: “When used in the role of ground attack with a conventional warhead, they are extremely inaccurate and can therefore cause significant collateral damage and civilian casualties. “Russia is likely to resort to such ineffective weapons systems because it lacks more accurate modern missiles, while the Ukrainian air defense continues to prevent its regular aircraft from carrying out attacks in much of the country.” Ukrainian troops have largely withdrawn from residential areas of the city, but have not retreated to the east bank of the river. Russian forces are also pushing north and south to try to encircle the Ukrainians, but have made limited progress.
More than the world
Zelensky said Russia was trying to “break every city in Donbas.” “Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk, Bakhmut, Sloviansk, many, many more,” he said in a speech Friday night. “All these ruins were once happy cities.” Mr Zelensky added: “Ukrainian troops are doing everything they can to stop the occupiers from attacking. As long as heavy weapons, modern artillery – everything we have asked for and continue to ask for from our partners – allow it. “Now is the time for all Ukrainians to be one – a nation that fights and does not allow the world to be distracted by what is happening on the battlefield in Ukraine.” The war is now primarily an artillery battle, in which Kyiv has been severely defeated, Ukrainian officials say. This means that the tide of events could only be reversed if Washington and others kept their promises to send more and better weapons, including missile systems. “This is an artillery war now,” Vadym Skibitsky, the deputy head of Ukraine’s military intelligence service, told The Guardian. “Everything depends on what it gives us (the West). “Ukraine has an artillery of up to 10 to 15 Russian artillery pieces.”
