Ukrainian City to Define Region Fate

The old industrial city, almost the last part of the Luhansk province controlled by its forces, has been characterised with fighting heavy artillery, fierce street fighting and major losses on both sides, writes the BBC, records Periscope.

Without a doubt, both sides have thrown everything into Severodonnetsk.

But the view that this city is key to the fate of Donbas does not coincide with an interview of the governor of Luhansk just a few days ago. Serhiy Hasai, so often a source of information about war, said “Severodonnetsk is only of symbolic importance and not of military or strategic importance”.

In fact, he said the neighbouring town of Lysychansk is of more strategic importance.

“Lysychansk is much more important because it's located in the corridor. It's easier for the army to defend and attack”

To understand why, we need to understand the geography of the region.

Severodonnetssk lies on a smoother terrain east of a river called Seversky Donnets, while Lysychanks lie on a hill on the east side. It is a much more defensive position, especially as the approach towards Lysychansk would include crossing the river, something that has proved to be too costly for Russia in the recent past.

People could recall some extraordinary views from a few weeks ago, a whole group of a tactical battalion died as he tried to cross the Seversky Donnets River bridge.

Trying to cross the river once again will be the task the Russians will face if they catch Severodonnetsk.

That may be why Zelensky says the “the fate of Donbas is placing” in the battle for Severodonetsk, he is speaking in symbolic rather than strategic terms.

In fact, even if the Russians seize the city, they will face a possible task of catching the rest of Donbas in more ways than one./ P ERISCOPI/