Fight for key Donbas cities reaching "fearsome climax," Ukraine warns

Where it stands: There have been "hellish battles in Severodonetsk" and nearby villages, while the city is being "shelled every day," Luhansk region Gov. Serhiy Haidai said in a Telegram post on Thursday. There has also been "massive shelling" in Lysychansk, he said.

• Haidai reported in a later post that Russian forces had seized two villages near Lysychansk. Since "yesterday Loskutivka and Rai-Oleksandrivka were occupied by the enemy," he said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of civilians remain trapped beneath the Azot chemical plant in Severodonetsk.

• The Kremlin claims its troops have encircled at the plant Ukrainian fighters they last week ordered to "surrender or die," Reuters notes. Haidai disputes this, insisting "Russian forces do not have full control" and that fighting continues.
• Zelensky said Russian troops "aim to turn any city into Mariupol" — the port city that endured weeks of bombardment before being taken by Putin's forces and where the United Nations warns remaining residents face a "dire" situation.

Between the lines: The onslaught spurred Zelensky to call for "the acceleration of weapons supplies" as European Union leaders prepared at a Brussels summit to formally grant Ukraine "candidate status," the first step in a lengthy process toward the country gaining EU membership.

• While the action is largely symbolic, it's likely to boost Ukraine some four months into a war that has killed thousands of people, left millions of others displaced, devastated cities and created a catastrophic health crisis.

Flashback: "Stench of bodies" reported as Russian troops enter key Ukrainian city

Editor's note: This article has been updated with Haidai's comments on the seizure of Loskutivka and Rai-Oleksandrivka.