Ukraine has retaken about 20% of territory lost in Sievierodonetsk -regional head

(Reuters) -Ukrainian forces have recaptured round 20% of the territory they misplaced within the metropolis of Sievierodonetsk throughout combating with Russia, the pinnacle of the jap area of Luhansk mentioned on Friday.

“Whereas earlier than the scenario was troublesome, the share (held by Russia) was someplace round 70%, now we’ve got already pushed them again by roughly 20%,” Serhiy Gaidai informed nationwide tv.

Russia has poured forces into the battle for town which Moscow should seize to realize its acknowledged goal of holding all of Luhansk province. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday mentioned his nation’s forces had had some latest success there.

Gaidai mentioned the Russians have been shelling Ukrainian positions for hours after which advancing, solely to be pushed again by defenders who had not been damage, earlier than repeating the sample.

“That is how they’re shifting ahead, step-by-step, as a result of with artillery, plane, mortars, they’re merely destroying the whole lot,” he mentioned.

“However as quickly as we’ve got sufficient Western long-range weapons, we’ll push their artillery away from our positions. After which, imagine me, the Russian infantry, they may simply run.”

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; modifying by Jonathan Oatis)