All three bridges connecting the embattled metropolis of Severodonetsk with its twin metropolis Lysychansk to the west, at the moment are impassable for automobiles, severely limiting evacuation choices for these making an attempt to flee town and provide routes in, in accordance with Serhiy Hayday, head of the Luhansk area navy administration.
“The bridges made it doable to hold at the least some humanitarian cargo, one thing associated to reserves. It’s at present inconceivable to make use of the bridges,” Hayday mentioned.
A second of three bridges was destroyed over the weekend. Hayday’s workplace defined that the third bridge, which has come below sustained shelling, is now impassable for automobiles.
The destruction of the bridges provides the Russian navy one other benefit since provide traces are interrupted, Hayday mentioned. Getting in weapons and reserves is now “tough, however not inconceivable,” he mentioned.
Hayday mentioned journey between Severodonetsk and Lysychansk was nonetheless doable, however didn’t go into element for safety causes.
“Lysychansk is already being shelled very powerfully, with a heavy caliber [weapons], they’re destroying all the things: each humanitarian headquarters and hospitals. However from Lysychansk there’s nonetheless a possibility to evacuate individuals and choose up humanitarian items each day,” he mentioned.
Hayday additionally mentioned of Severodonetsk that Russian forces “actually management many of the metropolis,” estimating about 70% to 80%.
However he denied claims by the self-declared Luhansk Individuals Republic (LPR) that Severodonetsk has fallen, saying “this isn’t true.”
“A part of town continues to be managed by Ukrainian defenders. If they’d full management of town, Russian troopers wouldn’t have died there,” Hayday mentioned.
Hayday additionally mentioned that even when Ukrainian forces gained again town, it could be inconceivable to “restore the infrastructure fully earlier than the winter. The one doable factor is to place radiators that can preserve the temperature heat within the tents. And sure, all the things is damaged. With water, with electrical energy — there shall be enormous issues with all the things.”
