• The residential parts of Severodonetsk are under the control of Russia.
• The Russian army was still seeking to establish control over the city’s “industrial zone and the nearest settlements”: Sergei.
• Mariupol is currently under the control of the Russian military.

The residential parts of Severodonetsk, a crucial city in eastern Ukraine, are fully under the control of Russian soldiers, according to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

In recent weeks, Severodonetsk, the main city still under Ukrainian control in the Lugansk region of eastern Ukraine, has been the epicenter of the battle.

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“The residential areas of the city of Severodonetsk have been fully liberated,” Shoigu told a defense ministry meeting in televised remarks.

The Russian army was still seeking to establish control over the city’s “industrial zone and the nearest settlements”, he added.

Since President Vladimir Putin deployed soldiers into Ukraine on February 24, the Russian army has made substantial gains in the eastern part of the country, moving into territory previously held by pro-Russian separatists.

Mariupol, the second-busiest port city in Ukraine prior to the conflict, is currently under the control of the Russian military.

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“The de-mining of the Mariupol port is complete. It is operating as normal and has accepted the first cargo ships,” Shoigu said.

Since the beginning of Moscow’s onslaught, 6,489 Ukrainian soldiers have surrendered to Russian forces, according to Shoigu.