Ukraine fights on after Russia’s surrender ultimatum, evacuation offer for Sievierodonetsk holdouts
- Russia has concentrated its overwhelming artillery firepower on Sievierodonetsk to obliterate resistance
- Hundreds of civilians are trapped in the Azot chemical plant as Russian forces tighten chokehold on city
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Russia tells Ukraine to end ‘senseless resistance’ and lay down arms in fight for Sievierodonetsk
Ukraine showed no signs of obeying a Russian ultimatum to surrender the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk early on Wednesday as Nato defence ministers gathered in Brussels to discuss sending more heavy weapons to replenish Kyiv’s dwindling stocks.
Russia had told Ukrainian forces holed up in a chemical plant in the shattered city to stop “senseless resistance and lay down arms” from Wednesday morning, pressing its advantage in the battle for control of eastern Ukraine.
Civilians would be let out through a humanitarian corridor, Mikhail Mizintsev, head of Russia’s National Defence Management Centre told the Interfax news agency.
Ukraine says more than 500 civilians are trapped alongside soldiers inside the Azot chemical factory where its forces have resisted weeks of Russian bombardment and assaults that have reduced much of Sievierodonetsk to ruins.
“It’s getting harder, but our military are holding back the enemy from three directions at once,” Serhiy Gaidai, governor of the Luhansk region containing Sievierodonetsk, posted online just before Russia’s 8am Moscow time (0500 GMT) deadline.
“They’re defending Sievierodonetsk and not letting them to advance to Lysychansk,” he said, referring to the twin city held by Ukraine on the opposite bank of the Siverskyi Donets river.
