Civilian Isolation Amid 'Indiscriminate Bombing'... Severodonetsk in Crisis

About 800 Civilians Sheltered in Soviet-Era Air Raid Shelter
Ukraine: "Recovered 20% of Lost Territory... Gradual Advance Despite Indiscriminate Bombing"

A man is hiding with a baby in an air-raid shelter at the Azot chemical plant.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] British daily The Guardian and BBC reported that a humanitarian disaster crisis is escalating in Sievierodonetsk, a strategic point in eastern Donbas, Ukraine, which is over 80% controlled by Russian forces.

Serhiy Haidai, governor of Luhansk Province, said on the 2nd (local time) that Sievierodonetsk is "under attack by Russian forces on all fronts," and that fierce urban warfare is taking place throughout the city, making it difficult for residents to evacuate. Governor Haidai emphasized that efforts to evacuate residents are in an 'extremely dangerous situation.'

According to the BBC, about 15,000 civilians remain trapped in Sievierodonetsk, which originally had a population of 100,000.

Governor Haidai stated that about 800 people are hiding in a Soviet-era air raid shelter located underground at the 'Azot' chemical plant, the economic backbone of Sievierodonetsk.

Sievierodonetsk is a strategic key point through which the Ukrainian military’s supply route passes, but the city’s functions have been paralyzed by indiscriminate bombing by Russian forces that have surrounded the entire city.

Urban warfare is being fought between Russian forces aiming to eliminate remaining troops and Ukrainian forces throughout the city, leaving civilians who have taken refuge in the Azot chemical plant helpless.

Meanwhile, reports are emerging that the beleaguered Ukrainian forces are finding clues for a counterattack.

Although Russian forces are known to have controlled more than 80% of the area as they intensified airstrikes, Ukrainian forces have reportedly recovered some of the lost territory.

On the 3rd (local time), British media The Guardian and other foreign outlets reported that Ukrainian forces reclaimed about 20% of the land taken by Russian forces.

Serhiy Haidai, governor of Luhansk Province, said on nationwide television that day, "Russian forces occupied about 70%, but we pushed them back by about 20%."

He added that although Russian forces conducted airstrikes on Ukrainian positions for several hours, the Ukrainian forces suffered no damage and drove the Russian forces away.

He also said, "Because Russian forces are using cannons, fighter jets, and mortars to destroy everything indiscriminately, we are advancing step by step like this."

With Russian forces surrounding the entire city of Sievierodonetsk and indiscriminately bombing it, paralyzing city functions, if Sievierodonetsk and nearby Lysychansk fall to Russian forces, Luhansk Province will effectively be completely under Russian control.

The Ukrainian military’s strategy is to hold out as long as possible against the Russian offensive in Sievierodonetsk to cut off Russian supply lines and aim for a turnaround.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.