Ukrainian Armed Forces reclaim 20% of Sievierodonetsk – Luhansk Military Administration

DENYS KARLOVSKYI – FRIDAY, 3 JUNE 2022, 21:08

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have pushed Russian occupation forces back from Sievierodonetsk, reclaiming 20% of the city.

Source: Serhii Haidai, the head of the Luhansk Oblast Military Administration, during the 24/7 national newscast

Quote: "Before this, the situation was tense, and around 70% [of Sievierodonetsk - ed.] was captured; currently, they [the Russian occupation forces - ed.] have been pushed back by 20% [by the Ukrainian Armed Forces - ed.].

Of course, [the Russian forces] are trying to transfer troops to the area in order to capture Sievierodonetsk. But even the DPR [the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic - ed.] recruits are now refusing to fight for what they call the LPR [the Luhansk People’s Republic - ed.]."

Details: According to Haidai, Russian occupation forces are suffering significant losses every day – in terms of both personnel and equipment – in the battle for Sievierodonetsk. He added that in the last couple of days there has been information about deaths among the Kadyrovites [the soldiers under the command of the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov - ed.]. He believes that this might mean that the Russian troops were forced to face the fact that their claims – that Sievierodonetsk was entirely under the control of the Russian army and that the Kadyrovites could safely roll in – were lies.

Haidai disagreed with the predictions of some of the Western experts, who suggest that Russian occupation forces will be able to establish full control over Sievierodonetsk over the course of the next two weeks. He said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have received reinforcements which significantly strengthen their efforts in preventing the Russian troops from capturing the city.

The head of the Luhansk Military Administration explained that the Russian occupiers first fire on Ukrainian positions from various types of weapons (artillery, tanks, mortars) and then mount infantry attacks. The advancing Russian troops are then killed under the fire of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and after that, the occupiers’ artillery resumes firing on various positions across Sievierodonetsk.

Haidai insisted that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be able to push the Russian artillery back as soon as long-range artillery reinforcements arrive at the frontline. In turn, if Ukrainian soldiers manage to destroy Russian artillery, the Russian infantry will flee.

Background:

• According to the General Staff report from the evening of 3 June, Russian troops have used artillery cover to storm the eastern part of Sievierodonetsk, where they were, in part, successful. Fighting is continuing in the area.
• The UK Ministry of Defence has predicted that Russian forces will be able to overcome the resistance put up by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Sievierodonetsk and completely capture the city within the next two weeks.