How Ukrainian defenders slipped out of Sievierodonetsk at night in boats

• One of the final Ukrainians to defend Sievierodonetsk claimed to have retreated in a boat
• Both sides confirmed that Russian forces completely took the frontline eastern city 
• Danylo, a 24-year-old soldier who claimed to be among the nearly last to depart

One of the final Ukrainians to defend Sievierodonetsk claimed to have retreated in a boat, sad to be leaving after enduring a weeks-long Russian assault on the destroyed city, but grateful to be alive as he and others across the river to higher ground.

Both sides confirmed that Russian forces completely took the frontline eastern city on Saturday, confirming Kyiv’s largest combat setback in more than a month after some of the deadliest fighting in the war.

Danylo, a 24-year-old soldier who claimed to be among the nearly last to depart, said: “It was a shame of course since a lot of work was put into protecting it – it went on for months.”

We’re not too offended, though, because we also want to live.

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In interviews on Sunday, he and another soldier, Anton, who also evacuated in the closing moments, spoke about their withdrawal over the Siverskyi Donets river.

They spoke with Reuters in Sloviansk, a hamlet about 60 kilometres (35 miles) west of Sievierodonetsk that has now developed into one of Ukraine’s key strongholds for its defence of the industrial Donbas heartland that Russia is primarily focusing its assault on seizing.

“For safety, it was mostly done in the dark. Because the crossings were also being shelled, their locations were continually changing “explained Danylo.

According to him, no one was killed in the pullback as far as he was aware.

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