According to official estimates, as many as 15,000 civilians are trapped in fighting in the city of Severodonetsk. The delivery of humanitarian aid is extremely difficult.
Governor of Luhansk Oblast Serhii Haidai describes the situation in Severodonetsk as “very difficult”.
– Unfortunately, the front line bisects the city. But the city is defending itself, the city is still Ukrainian, our soldiers are defending it, the leader of the city’s military and wing administration Oleksandr Stryuk said Tuesday.
Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council in the city Jan Egeland considers the devastation suffered by Severodonetsk to be appalling.
“Thousands of civilians have been crucified without adequate water, food, electricity or medicine,” Egeland estimates.
– The constant bombing forces people to stay in shelters and basements, there is little chance of escape.
“This doesn’t end well”
Worked as a volunteer Stanislav Šabo was in town for the last time on Sunday, May 22nd.
– Another of the then Lysythansk to Sjevedonetsk has been destroyed. The other was badly damaged and was constantly fired, Šabo says.
Shabo’s last relief trip so far was to visit about a dozen addresses and deliver fuel, food and other humanitarian assistance. Shabo’s group also assisted Ukrainian troops.
Due to the ongoing bombing, aid could not be distributed to even half of the addresses on the list.
– When we arrived, the city was completely empty. No one was moving from the bomb shelters. There were no people at all. This does not end well. We now have our own Mariupol.
Mark Marina the 27-year-old economist who gave the interview says he is currently scared on behalf of his parents. These previously refused to board evacuation buses because they did not want to go into the unknown.
Phone lines are constantly broken.
– I can’t reach my parents. I keep researching the listings of the dead on social media.