Ukraine flees strategic Donbas region city as Russians win gains

Ukraine began evacuating its soldiers on Wednesday from the embattled city of Severodonetsk, the strategic eastern city that Russia has been battling to take over in a bid to control the Donbas region, local officials said.

Ukrainian forces retreated after suffering big losses in the city that s now about 80% controlled by Russian forces, Luhansk regional governor Serhiy Haidai said Wednesday.

This is not a betrayal, Haidai wrote in a post on Telegram.

The governor said the retreat across the river to Severodonetsk s twin city, Lysychansk, was part of their strategy to move to more advantageous, pre-prepared positions as they wait for shipments of Western weapons.

via nypost.com