Free Republic

Russian forces could be just weeks away from seizing control of the key Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine — as Ukrainian officials continued to appeal for more heavy weapons and ammunition from the West. An unnamed senior US defense official told The Washington Post that the cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk, which have seen some of the fiercest battles in recent weeks, could fall to Russia in the coming days. Russia has been making steady gains in the strategically important Donbas region — comprised of Luhanks and Donetsk — by pounding the area with heavy artillery day after day and...

The Ukrainian military is taking steps to return Sievierodonetsk to the full control of Ukraine and is confident that "everything will work out."Source: Oleksandr Striuk, head of the Sievierodonetsk Civil Military Administration, 24/7 national joint newscastStriuk's quote on what percentage of the city is occupied: "I would not say that it is occupied. There was some military success on the part of the orcs, who managed to enter the city and capture a fairly significant part, almost dividing it in half – if we are talking about residential areas, where they can feel confident. But our military has managed to...