District State Administration: Russians control about half of Sievierodonetsk

SVITLANA KIZILOVA - TUESDAY, 31 MAY 2022, 10:22 A.M.

The Russian army has control of a large part of the city in Sievierodonetsk, Luhansk Oblast, with fighting taking place in the central part of the city.

Source: Roman Vlasenko, head of the Severodonetsk Raion [District] State Administration, in a special morning broadcast on Radio Svoboda

Details: According to Vlasenko, about 50% of the city has been seized by Russian troops.

Quote from Vlasenko: "Russian troops have control of a significant part of the city of Sievierodonetsk, with fighting going on in the central part of the city. Their first assault was unsuccessful, we managed to dislodge them from the city. The second time they entered the outskirts, they managed to consolidate and create some kind of foothold. Geographically, the assault was carried out in three directions at once, along the perimeter."

More details: Vlasenko also said the city is paralysed by the fighting, it has been impossible to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians for about a week, there has been no evacuation for days, and shelling and fighting take place virtually round the clock.

He urged locals to stay in protective shelters while the intense fighting continues.

Background: The Ukrainian Armed Forces' General Staff reported on the morning of 31 May that Russian troops on the Donetsk front were concentrating their main efforts on establishing control over the city of Sievierodonetsk. On the Sievierodonetsk front, the Russian army is conducting assault operations near Sievierodonetsk and Toshkivka settlements, and fighting is ongoing.

According to the Ukrainian Defence Ministry, the most active phase of Russia's full-scale military aggression is now under way.