By Oleksandr Kozhukhar

KYIV (Reuters). -Russian forces blocked all roads to evacuate citizens from eastern Ukraine’s Sievierodonetsk. They destroyed the bridge connecting it with a Ukrainian controlled city, a Ukrainian official stated.

According to the Ukrainian military’s daily report on the conflicts in different parts of Ukraine, Russian troops “were trying to establish a foothold” in central Kiev.

In a Telegram post, Serhiy Gaidai, the governor of Luhansk, stated that “The situation at Sievierodonetsk has become extremely aggrieved” and said, “The Russians have destroyed high-rise buildings in Azot.” He said that hundreds of civilians were hiding in the Azot chemical plants, which was under attack by Russian forces, a day earlier.

Ukraine is requesting more heavy Western weapons for defense of Sievierodonetsk. Kyiv believes that this weapon could be the key to the Battle for Eastern Donbass and its course.

Gaidai stated on Monday via social media that about 70% of the city is under enemy control. The destruction of the bridge to Lysychansk means any civilians who remain in Sievierodonetsk are trapped and humanitarian supplies cannot be delivered.

According to the latest Ukrainian military situation report, there was concern about Russian forces gathering in Donbas.

The enemy had “created conditions for the developmentof the offensive on Sloviansk”, according to the report. This led to an offensive against the towns Lyman Yampil, Siversk and Lysychansk.

The President Volodymyr Zilenskiy declared late Monday that the battle over eastern Donbass would be remembered as one of Europe’s most bloody. Russian separatists have claimed the Luhansk-Donetsk region.

The price for this war is extremely high. He said it was “just scary”.

We draw attention to our partners every day that Ukraine needs sufficient modern artillery.

Russia’s goal is to secure Donetsk and Luhansk. Kremlin spokeswoman Dmitry Peskov claimed Monday after a leader from one of the separatist groups asked for more troops from Moscow.

According to Mykhailo Polyak, the Presidential Advisor, Ukraine requires 1,000 howitzers and 500 tanks, as well as 1,000 drones.

Moscow released the latest in a series of reports that claimed it had destroyed U.S. weapons and equipment.

Russia’s defence ministry stated that missiles from high precision air were fired at the Udachne station, northwest of Donetsk. The strike hit Ukrainian equipment.

Telegram from Ukraine: The interior ministry stated that Udachne was hit overnight Sunday and Monday by a Russian attack, but did not mention whether any weapons were targeted.

Moscow has criticized the United States, other countries and threatened strike to new targets if they sent long-range missiles to Ukraine.

Politico, reporting late Monday that the European Commission would recommend Ukraine being granted EU-candidate status, said Politico, citing several anonymous officials.

Ursula von der Leyen (Commission President) stated that by Saturday, the EU executive’s decision regarding Ukraine’s request for membership would be available.

MARIUPOL AGAIN?

Russia’s RIA news Agency quoted Eduard Basurin (pro-Moscow separatist) as saying that Ukrainian troops were in fact cut off at Sievierodonetsk, and they must surrender or die.

This situation risks becoming similar to Mariupol with “a large pockets of Ukrainian defenders cutoff from the rest of the Ukrainian troopers”, Damien Magrou, spokeswoman for the International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine, which has been present in Sievierodonetsk.

Many civilians were injured and hundreds of soldiers from Ukraine were held hostage in the Azovstal steelworks during the Fall of Mariupol.

Russia denied that it targeted civilians during a so-called “special operation” to restore Russian security, and “denazify,” its neighbor.

This is a pretext to invade Ukraine, according to its Western allies. It has already killed thousands of civilians in the country and raised concerns about wider conflicts in Europe.

Over 5,000,000 people fled the country and are now in danger of starvation. The crisis has divided Western countries into two camps: how to deal with it and what to do.

Moscow began to focus on the Donbas after failing to seize the capital Kyiv in response the February 24th invasion. Since 2014, pro-Russian separatists had held the territory there since 2014. Russia attempted to also capture more parts of the Black Sea coast in Ukraine.

Pavlo Kyrylenko, Donetsk’s regional governor, stated to Ukrainian TV that “the entire front is being under constant shelling.”

Maryinka was, Krasnohorivka and Vuhledar all were affected by the coal-producing belt. He also mentioned Avdiivka which is home to a large coking plant.

Officials in the Russian-backed separatist-controlled Donetsk region said at least three people, including a child, were killed and 18 were wounded by Ukrainian shelling that hit a market in Donetsk city.

Donetsk News Agency posted images showing burning stalls in the central Maisky marketplace and bodies lying on the ground. According to the news agency, 155-mm NATO-standard artillery ammunitions were used in some parts of the area on Monday.

Russian media outlets reported that a bomb had struck a Donetsk maternity hospital. This caused a fire, and staff were forced to evacuate patients from the basement.

Reuters couldn’t independently verify the claims. Kyiv has not yet responded to these reports.