The essential
The Russians claim to have "totally liberated" the residential areas of Severodonetsk.
An inventory contested by kyiv as the fighting continues.
President Zelensky praised "the absolutely heroic defense of Donbass (which) continues".
The President of the Senate, Gérard Larcher, will “soon” travel to Ukraine, at the invitation of the President of the Ukrainian Parliament.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Turkey on Tuesday evening to discuss the establishment of maritime corridors to facilitate grain exports to the Black Sea.
05:55
Fighting continues in Severodonetsk
The Russians claim to have "completely liberated" the residential areas of this strategic city for control of the entire Donbass coalfield in eastern Ukraine.
“The takeover of its industrial zone and neighboring localities continues,” said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in a rare televised briefing on Tuesday.
An inventory disputed by kyiv.
“They do not control the city,” replied a few hours later in a video message on Telegram Serguiï Gaïdaï, the governor of the Lugansk region, which, with that of Donetsk, forms the Donbass.
However, he acknowledged that “it is very difficult to hold Severodonetsk”, even speaking of “mission impossible”.
“All forces, all reserves have been mobilized by the enemy, the Russian army, to cut off the Lysytchansk-Bakhmut highway in order to take Severodonetsk.
They are shelling Lysychansk very violently,” the governor said.
05:50
“Heroic Defense of Donbass”
For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky assured in his daily video address on Tuesday evening that "the situation on the front has not changed significantly in the past 24 hours" and that "the absolutely heroic defense of Donbass continues".
“More than 31,000 Russian soldiers have died in Ukraine,” the Ukrainian president also said.
“Since February 24, Russia has been paying for this completely senseless war almost 300 lives of its soldiers every day.
But there will be a day when even for Russia the number of casualties will become unacceptable.”
05:49
Welcome to this live
On the 105th day of the war in Ukraine, you can follow the developments and consequences of this new day of conflict here.