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Ukraine on Wednesday ignored a Moscow ultimatum to hand over the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk. These developments come as the United States announced new military assistance to Kiev, and urged allies not to “lose momentum” in military support for Ukraine.
Sievierodonetsk, has been for weeks a hot spot of fighting that have almost devastated the city. On Wednesday morning, Russian forces urged Ukrainian troops housed in a chemical plant to stop what they called “senseless resistance and handing over weapons.”
Ukrainian authorities say more than 500 civilians, including 40 children, have been housed inside the Nitrogen plant, along with Ukrainian soldiers.
Sievierodonetsk Mayor Oleksandr Stryuk said Russian forces were trying to attack the city from several directions, but the Ukrainians were continuing to defend it even though all the bridges over the rivers had already been destroyed.
“The situation is difficult, but stable“He told a Ukrainian television station. “Roads to escape are dangerous, but there are some“.
Mr. Stryuk did not speak about Russia’s ultimatum.
Moscow had said it would allow civilians to be evacuated from the plant on Wednesday, but Russian-backed separatists said the artillery attacks by the Ukrainians had thwarted plans.
Luhansk region governor Serhiy Gaidai, who includes Sievierodonetsk, said the Ukrainian army was continuing to defend the city and was making efforts to protect the city of Lysychansk, which lies on the other side of the Siverskyi Donets River, from Russian forces.
Luhansk is one of the two eastern provinces that Moscow aims to occupy. Together with Sievierodonetsk, they make up the Donbas, an industrial region where Russia has focused its attack since failing to take the Ukrainian capital in March./VOA
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