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| Photo Credit: AP. |
Russian
forces have been battling Ukrainian forces in the area and are set to take
complete control of the area. A Ukrainian retreat would be significant because
it would leave all of Luhansk under Russian control, except for the city of
Lysychansk, according to the BBC.
According to
the BBC, Luhansk, a mainly Russian-speaking region in east Ukraine, is a key
priority for President Vladimir Putin. Luhansk and the Donestsk region make up
the Dombas a large, industrial area which has been the focus of a
Russian-backed separatist movement since 2014.
At the start
of its war of conquest, Russian President Vladimir Putin inaccurately claimed
that Russian speakers in the Donbas have been victims of genocide hence its
decision to invade Ukraine to save them.
Ukraine has
also accused the Russian military of actively shelling residential areas in a
clear case of genocide against the Ukrainian people.
For weeks the
Russian forces have concentrated their fire power in Severodonetsk which has
seen intense fighting. At one point Ukrainian forces were held up in the city’s
industrial zones but were later pushed as the intensity of the Russian
artillery increased.
In a bid to
prevent access to the city, Russian forces destroyed all bridges to the city
making it difficult for Ukrainian authorities to maintain their supply lines.
"Remaining
in positions that have been relentlessly shelled for months just doesn't make
sense," Luhansk regional head Serhiy Haidai told Ukrainian television,
according to the BBC.
"They
[Ukrainian forces] have received orders to retreat to new positions... and
continue their operations from there."
The order
for retreat may be to prevent the Mariupol experience where Ukrainian forces
were surrounded on all sides as they were held up in a huge steel project. The official
added that the entire city infrastructure has been completely destroyed with
over 90% of houses shelled and 80% of them critically damaged.
Severodonetsk
district head Roman Vlasenko said Ukrainian troops were still in the city,
telling Radio Liberty on Friday that a withdrawal could still take some time,
according to the BBC.
Most civilians
are still taking shelter in the huge Azot chemical plant.