Ukraine’s retreat from Severodonetsk after weeks of fighting against Russian forces in the eastern city was a “tactical” move to avoid a repeat of the fateful Azovstal siege in Mariupol, according to the country’s military intelligence chief.
Brigadier General Kyrylo Budanov said Friday’s pullout was ordered because weeks of Russian heavy artillery had “levelled” Severodonetsk “to the ground”. The devastation mirrored the fate of the port of Mariupol where Ukrainian soldiers sheltering in the Azovstal steel mill became trapped for weeks before surrendering.
Ukrainian troops had therefore “moved to higher ground” westward across the Siversky Donetsk river to the sister city Lysychansk and its surroundings. This retreat would make it “very difficult” for Russian forces positioned on the eastern banks of the river to cross and advance, particularly uphill, towards Lysychansk, he said.