Ukrainian troops have already partially left the city of Severodonetsk in the Luhansk region, journalist Yuriy Butusov said on Friday, June 24, which confirmed the words of the head of the Lugansk OVO about the intention of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to withdraw to more fortified positions.

" Tonight, Ukrainian units organizedly left part of the industrial zone of Severodonetsk. On the sector of the front where I was, the withdrawal took place under fire, but without losses, ”Butusov wrote..

He added that although it is bitter to depart, this decision is long overdue, and the Ukrainian military fought with dignity for the city, and did more than possible in such difficult conditions..

“Without bridges and without pontoons, every day of the battle was sheer heroism. I will write about it a little later. We went out. But we will definitely be back,” he added..

The fact that the Ukrainian troops left the city of Severodonetsk, the battles for which had been going on since the beginning of May, was confirmed in a commentary to Hromadsky by the head of the Luhansk OV Serhiy Gaidai.

He stressed that the decision was made to minimize losses and to prevent their encirclement by Russian troops..

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The situation with the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Luhansk region is very difficult and most likely Russian troops will soon occupy both Severodonetsk and Lysychansk. But this will not be a turning point in favor of the Russians, because they are losing the remnants of their offensive potential there, according to a summary of the American Institute for the Study of War.