Ukrainian troops in a tank on a road in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas on June 21. Photo: Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images
Ukrainian troops will have to withdraw from the besieged eastern city of Severodonetsk, the regional governor said Friday.
Why it matters: The last remaining major city in the Luhansk region of the Donbas still under Ukrainian control has endured weeks of bombardment by Russia's invading forces.
- Lysychansk, Severodonetsk's twin city in the Luhansk region, has also endured days of heavy shelling, prompting a Ukrainian official to warn the battle for the Donbas is "entering a sort of fearsome climax" this week.
Driving the news: "Unfortunately, we will have to remove our military from Severodonetsk, because staying in broken positions makes no sense — the number of dead is growing," Luhansk region Gov. Serhiy Haidai said in a Telegram post.
- "Defenders of Severodonetsk will leave the city for new, more fortified positions," Haidai said in a later post.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.