After weeks of fighting with the military Russiatroops Ukraine reportedly finally gave up and left the city of Rubizhne in Luhansk, on Friday (13/5).
Luhansk is a region in eastern Ukraine that has long been controlled by pro-Russian separatists.
A number of videos circulating in several local media show a fierce battle between Russian and Ukrainian soldiers on the outskirts of the industrial city on Thursday (12/5).
A bridge linking Rubizhne with the neighboring city of Severodonetsk has been demolished.
According to some observers of the war, it shows Ukrainian troops are taking a new line of defense to face the onslaught of Russia.
There has been no official confirmation from the General Staff of the Ukrainian Military regarding the movement of its troops who have left the outskirts of Rubizhne.
Quoted CNNthe General Staff of the Ukrainian Military reported only on Friday that “the enemy continues to focus its efforts on establishing complete control over the settlement of Rubizhne.
Ukrainian officials reported earlier that a town near Rubizhne had been controlled by Russia.
In its latest analysis, the Institute for the Study of War also said “Russian forces probably captured almost all of Rubizhne by 12 May, and may have captured the town of Voevodivka, north of Severdonetsk.”
Ukrainian troops continue to defend Severodonetsk, which has been battered by Russian gunfire and air strikes for weeks.
Around 15,000 civilians are estimated to still be in Severodonetsk, out of a total population of 100,000 before the invasion. The city was more than 70% destroyed, according to local authorities.
“The evacuation was stopped because it was impossible to drive on a road that was constantly being bombarded. As soon as the situation stabilizes, the evacuation will resume,” the head of the Severodonetsk Civil-Military Administration, Oleksandr Stryuk, said Thursday.
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