Kiev’s official said Tuesday that Russia’s military campaign has “entered its most active phase,” according to the words of Defense Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk. “Russian forces are trying to encircle Ukrainian troops in twin cities straddling the Siverskyi Donets River in eastern Ukraine,” he described. Further as Reuters reports, “Motuzyanyk said Russian forces had not given up attempts to cross the river.” The area referenced is in and around the vicinity of the city of Sievierodonetsk and represents the last major Ukrainian stronghold in the eastern Lugansk province. Alongside Lysychansk on the opposite bank, this section of the river is where the most pivotal battle is now taking place.
Intensified fighting in Lugansk this week. Image source: AFP
Russian forces are reportedly advancing from three directions in an attempt to completely encircle Ukrainian positions there. Shelling on the area has greatly increased according to accounts from all sides.
Local Ukrainian officials have also acknowledged that the fighting has intensified to its worst point since the start of the conflict, and that civilians are now being told to evacuate immediately, as The Moscow Times details.
West of this in one of the largest Donbas cities, called Slovyansk, Ukrainian forces are still firmly in control, with the streets still relatively ‘normal’ in terms of civilian activity, despite air raid sirens routinely blaring.
Russian Tornado-G MLRS firing on Ukrainian positions in the Lyman area. https://t.co/SzqJegnv96 pic.twitter.com/BIhu6ImaNv
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) May 24, 2022
Russian operations to encircle Severodonetsk made gains in the past 24 hours, driving north through Zolote. Fighting is ongoing in Lyman (west of Severodonetsk) as Russian forces attempt to cut off Ukrainian supply lines.
May 23, 2022. Russian operations to encircle Severodonetsk made gains in the past 24 hours, driving north through Zolote. Fighting is ongoing in Lyman (west of Severodonetsk) as Russian forces attempt to cut off Ukrainian supply lines.
— George Barros (@georgewbarros) May 24, 2022
A thread on map updates for @TheStudyofWar. https://t.co/I40tTkjgHN
Should the twin cities fall, expelling the final Ukrainian troops still fighting, this would effectively mark a complete Russian takeover of Luhansk province and entire Donbass opening the way towards other regions.
More Ukrainian troops surrender, cracks show in Ukraine defenses and West’s resolve, writes Cain Burdeau
On the battlefields of Donbas, Russian forces reportedly are threatening to break through Ukrainian defenses and encircle large numbers of its adversaries.
“The sense in Donbas is that the situation is deteriorating significantly – and that this has accelerated in recent days,” Neil Hauer, a Canadian freelance journalist on the front lines in Donbas, said Wednesday on Twitter. “Russian troops have advanced on several axes in the past 24 hours and there’s an ominous feeling here.”
In recent days, Russian and pro-Russian separatist forces have claimed to have seized control of several settlements in their drive to encircle Ukrainian forces in Severodonetsk and Lysichansk.
There are reports of fighting reaching the outskirts of Severodonetsk and RIA Novosti, a Russian state news agency, claimed that up to 2,500 Ukrainian troops in Lysichansk have become cut off and are now encircled.
“They have the options to either lay down their arms and survive or continue their resistance and die,” said Rodion Miroshnik, the ambassador to Russia for the Luhansk People’s Republic, a second breakaway region.
In recent days, videos have appeared showing Ukrainian troops depicting a desperate situation on the front lines due to a lack of equipment, weaponry, food and any support.