Invaders control center of Severodonetsk but are taking serious losses, says Defense Ministry

Motuzyanyk noted that Russian commanders are disregarding their losses in men and material and are attempting to capture as much territory as possible. Currently, the main objective of the invaders is to reach the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, ensure a land corridor with occupied Crimea, and block Ukraine's maritime communications in the northwestern part of the Black Sea.

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"Russian troops have continued to use the same tactics since the Second World War, considering their main achievement to be the encirclement of Ukrainian troops and the capture of new territories,” the spokesperson ex-plained.

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"The enemy attaches special importance to achieving a significant advantage, especially in artillery and armored vehicles, with virtually no infantrymaneuvers. This is evidenced by the analysis of reports, specifically about the course of hostilities in the city of Severodonetsk, where the occupiers suffer significant losses in infantry units of the Rosgvardia and the Russian Armed Forces and advance only using attack aircraft.”

Motuzyanyk added that on the Donetsk axis, Ukrainian defenders are holding back the Russian offensive, preventing them from surrounding Ukrainian troops near Severodonetsk and Lysychansk. On the Severodonetsk axis, Ukrainian troops are resisting the Russian assault. The Russians use artillery and multiple launch rocket systems and control the city center, as intense fighting continues.

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According to Motuzyanyk, due to the rising summer heat, the Siverskyi Donets River is getting shallower, and Ukrainian forces are strengthening defenses on likely crossing points.

Earlier on June 13, Luhansk regional governor Serhiy Hayday said that the Russian invaders control about 70% of Severodonetsk. About 500 residents of Severodonetsk remain in shelter at the Azot chemical plant in the city, including 40 children.

An advisor to the Defense Ministry, Yuriy Sak, commented that the Russian blitzkrieg in Severodonetsk has failed.