Ukrainians in Severodonetsk trapped as Russia 'destroyed' all bridges

By Jeyhun Aliyev

ANKARA (AA) - Russian forces have destroyed all the bridges in Ukraine's eastern city of Severodonetsk, cutting off routes for the evacuation of citizens, according to a local official.

"All bridges are destroyed, but Severodonetsk is not blocked. Communication with the city is there," said Serhiy Hayday, governor of Luhansk region where the city is located, in a Facebook post on Monday.

Hayday said the Russians have captured part of the city, but some parts remain under Ukrainian control.

Severodonetsk is among the last cities in Luhansk region that is still partially controlled by the Ukrainian forces.

Hayday went on to say that the evacuation and transportation of people was "impossible," while people who remained in the city were surviving "in extremely difficult conditions."

Earlier on Monday, he said that the Russian forces are controlling 70% of Severodonetsk, noting that the military only manages to evacuate "a few people a day."

"The Azot plant in #Severodonetsk is constantly shelled by the Russians. About 500 civilians, including 40 children, are sheltering there. We're trying to arrange an evacuation," he said on Twitter.

On Monday morning, Hayday said that following 110 days of "surviving the shelling" around 70 residents were evacuated from Lysychansk and surrounding settlements.

"The shelling is so powerful that people can't stand it. Already in the shelters, the psychological state is on the edge," he added.

He claimed that a large number of Russian soldiers were dying in pitched battles on the streets, as fighting continues in the city.

Nearly 4,400 civilians have been killed and some 5,390 injured in Ukraine since the war started on Feb. 24, while over 14 million people have been forced to flee their homes, including more than 7.3 million that have fled to other countries, according to UN figures.