Three months after the start of its invasion in Ukraine, the Russian army intensified its offensive in the east of the country, pushing Ukrainian forces to consider a strategic withdrawal on certain front lines, in order to avoid an encirclement.
“The situation in the Donbass is very, very difficult,” President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged on Friday in a video address, while ensuring “to do everything to strengthen” the defense of this region.
The territorial defense of the self-proclaimed pro-Russian separatist "republic" of Donetsk indicated on Telegram that it had "taken complete control" of the key locality of Lyman, with the "support" of the Russian army.
An assertion that President Zelensky disputes: “If the occupiers think that Lyman and Severodonetsk will be theirs, they are mistaken.
Donbass will be Ukrainian”.
Uncertainty over the fate of Severodonetsk
For the Russians, the stated objective is to take full control of the Donbass mining basin, partially controlled since 2014 by pro-Russian separatists supported by Moscow.
A police official in the pro-Russian separatist republic of Lugansk said on Friday that "the city of Severodonetsk is currently surrounded", and that Ukrainian troops are trapped there.
False, retorted the governor of Lugansk, Serguiï Gaïdaï, even judging erroneous to say that the region will fall under Russian “entire control of the enemy” in “one, two or three days”.
"Most likely they won't" seize it, but "perhaps, to avoid being surrounded there could be a withdrawal order given to our troops", he however admitted.
Read alsoWar in Ukraine: how Russia is gaining ground despite fierce Ukrainian resistance
In his daily video message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday evening accused Moscow of "genocide" in the Donbass, where Russian forces are carrying out "deportations" and "mass killings of civilians".
For its part, Moscow justified its invasion of Ukraine by a "genocide" that the Ukrainians would carry out against the Russian-speaking population of Donbass.
kyiv demands more weapons from Westerners
In this context, kyiv once again demanded more weapons from Westerners on Friday.
“Some partners avoid giving the necessary weapons for fear of escalation.
Climbing, really?
Russia is already using the heaviest non-nuclear weapons, burning people alive.
Maybe it's time (…) to give us MLRS (multiple rocket launchers)?
tweeted Mykhaïlo Podoliak, adviser to the Ukrainian presidency.
This is 🇷🇺 Solntsepek flamethrower system.
Some partners avoid giving the necessary weapons because of fear of the escalation.
Escalation, really?
RF already uses the heaviest non-nuclear weapons against 🇺🇦, burning people alive.
Maybe it's time to respond and give us MLRS?
pic.twitter.com/6M1NFRw6xQ
— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) May 27, 2022
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby did not confirm the existence of such a project, a prospect raised by the American press.
