Ukraine army will retreat from battleground city

• Ukrainian troops will withdraw from Severodonetsk, a senior Ukrainian official has said.
• The Russian attack on the city is reducing the eastern city to ashes.
• However, Sergiy Gaiday, the governor of Lugansk, which includes the city, stated that the Ukrainian troops must retreat.

KYIV, Ukraine: Ukrainian soldiers will withdraw from Severodonetsk in the face of a ferocious Russian attack that is reducing the eastern city to ashes, as per a senior Ukrainian official,

The announcement came right after the European Union gave Ukraine a big sign of support by giving the former Soviet republic candidate status, even though it still has a long way to go before it can join.

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The industrial area, which is important from a strategic point of view, has been the site of street fights for weeks, as the Ukrainians, who don’t have as many weapons, have fought hard to defend it.

However, Sergiy Gaiday, the governor of Lugansk, which includes the city, stated that the Ukrainian troops must retreat.

He stated via Telegram that “They have received an order” to withdraw.

“Remaining in positions that have been relentlessly shelled for months just doesn’t make sense.”

The Continuous bombing has “almost reduced” the city to ruins, he said.

“All critical infrastructure has been destroyed. Ninety percent of the city is damaged, 80 percent (of) houses will have to be demolished,” he remarked.

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Capturing Severodonetsk and its twin city, Lysychansk, would give the Russians control of Lugansk and permit them to advance farther into the broader Donbas region.