Ukraine Troops To Withdraw From Strategic City

‘Ukraine Troops To Withdraw From Strategic City’

Stefan J. Bos

Ukraine’s outgunned troops began withdrawing Friday from Severodonetsk, the embattled eastern city that is a focus of Russia’s war effort, a local leader said. Moscow shelled the city heavily and continuously for four months, regional governor Serhiy Haidai confirmed Friday.

He added it made no sense to keep fighters in such a heavily compromised position while troops in neighboring Lysychansk also face potential encirclement by Kremlin forces.

It was not immediately clear what impact the withdrawal would have on frightened, hungry, and lacking medicines residents hiding in bomb shelters in the troubled city.

The setbacks in eastern Ukraine are in contrast to Kyiv’s recent wins off the battlefield.

A visibly delighted President Volodymyr Zelensky celebrated “victory” Thursday after the European Union decided to grant Ukraine membership candidate status.

The move is only the first step in a lengthy process, but EU accession is a primary Ukrainian goal. “This decision is not only for Ukraine,” he said. “This is the biggest step towards strengthening Europe that could be taken right now.”
 Kyiv also secured an additional $450 million in security aid from Washington, including patrol boats and more multi-launch rocket launchers. The United States has offered roughly $6.1 billion in such assistance since the Feb. 24 invasion.

Ukraine was topping the agenda during the EU’s European Council summit on Friday as well as at upcoming meetings of the NATO military alliance and the Group of Seven nations.

It comes as the impact of the war is noticed globally with rising food and fuel prices.

Turkey said, however, that its investigations turned up “no evidence” to support Ukrainian claims that Russia shipped stolen grain from Ukraine to its ports.

Beginning of the end… Defeated Ukrainian forces retreat from Severodonetsk