After weeks of intense fighting, Sievjerodonetsk in eastern Ukraine has fallen.
The next goal for Russia is to surround and occupy the neighboring city of Lysytjank.
– In principle, Sievjerodonetsk has been fired, says Lieutenant Colonel Joakim Paasikivi.
On Friday, Ukrainian soldiers were ordered to withdraw from Sevierodonetsk after weeks of heavy fighting and frantic Russian shelling.
On Saturday, the city fell into Russian hands. The nearby town of Borivske is also to be under Russian control.
“The city is completely occupied,” said Oleksandr Strjuk, mayor of Sievjerodonetsk, according to the news agency AFP.
According to local authorities, 90 percent of the infrastructure in the city is damaged or completely destroyed.
– In principle, Sievjerodonetsk has been fired. After a surprisingly long time, they have managed to break the Ukrainian resistance through overwhelming firepower, says Lieutenant Colonel Joakim Paasikivi.
Evacuation from the Azot plant
Many have fled the city, how many are left is unknown. A large number of civilians have taken refuge in bunkers under the chemical plant Azotverket.
Strjuk states that an evacuation from the Azot plant has begun.
– These people have spent almost three months of their lives in basements and shelters. It is tough emotionally and physically, he said and added that they will need medical and psychological help, says Strjuk according to TT.
The Russian side states that 800 people have been evacuated.
Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defense, called the conquest of Sevierodonetsk and Borivske “a result of successful offensive operations.”
Konashenkov also mentioned the Azot plant but said nothing about what will happen to the civilians who are evacuated, writes The Guardian.
Russia wants to surround the neighboring city
After Sevierodonetsk, the Russian military – which now controls 95 percent of the Luhansk region – is expected to focus on the neighboring city of Lyceum.
– It is the last bit of Luhansk, so it is reasonable to assume that it is a Russian war goal to take Lysytjank as well, says Joakim Paasikivi.
Russia has managed to cut off Lysytjank from several directions with the goal of surrounding the city. According to think tank ISW the Ukrainians are fighting to exhaust the Russian forces.
Lieutenant Colonel Paasikivi agrees.
– The plan is to fight until it becomes too costly. Then you go back to the next prepared defensive position. It’s a classic tactic.
The consequence will be large losses on both sides, says Paasikivi.
– As Ukraine is fighting for its own country, it is obviously prepared to take the losses in, I think, to create time for its other units to be mobilized and equipped.
If the Russians, on the other hand, succeed in taking Lysytjank, it is an advance towards Slovjansk and Kramatorsk possible goals. But the Russian advance in the Donbass is going very slowly. In addition, the problems of compensating for losses and a low fighting morale remain.
Upcoming battles in the Donbass will stand between tired forces on both sides, according to Paasikivi.