KYIV: Despite Russian soldiers coming down after weeks of violent combat, Ukraine authorities said Tuesday that a third bridge to Severodonetsk had been demolished but that the eastern city was not shut off.

Oleksandr Stryuk, the city’s administrator, said “massive shelling has destroyed a third bridge” that connects the city to Ukrainian-controlled Lysychansk across the Siverskyi Donets River.

Read more: Ukraine forces pushed back from city center of Severodonetsk

“There are communication channels, even if they are quite complicated.”

He said Ukrainian troops “continue to defend the city” and that the battle goes on “round the clock,” adding that the situation on the ground “changes every hour.”

The Ukrainian army announced on Monday that Moscow’s forces had pushed its troops out of the city centre, while Russia-backed rebels claimed the city had been “blocked.”

“The Russian troops do not give up their attempt to storm the city, but the (Kyiv) military holds firm,” Stryuk added.

Read more: Ukraine exhumes seven remains it claims were murdered by Russian military

He admitted that it was “difficult” to support them but that the factory had “some reserves.”

The Russian military was firing at the plant, according to regional governor Sergiy Gaiday.

“Russian forces are trying to encircle units of our troops,” Gaiday stated, a day after admitting Moscow’s army held “more than 70%” of the city.