• Ukrainian troops repulsed Russian attacks on villages near Severodonetsk.
• Ukrainian army said Russian forces were “storming” towards the village of Orikhove.
• The two armies have fought bloody battles for weeks.

The Ukrainian army said Russian forces were “storming” towards the village of Orikhove; but that an assault near the village was “successfully repulsed.”

According to Kyiv’s armed forces, Ukrainian troops repelled Russian attacks on villages near the eastern city of Severodonetsk; where the two armies have been fighting bloody battles for weeks.

Read More: ‘Fierce Battle’ outside Ukrainian city

A day earlier, officials said fierce battles were taking place in settlements outside Severodonetsk; which they say is mostly, but not entirely, under Russian control.

“All declarations by Russians that they control Severodonetsk are lies. Indeed, they control the majority of the city but they do not control it entirely;” local governor Sergiy Gaiday said on Telegram Sunday.

He said Russian forces are “constantly replenishing their army with reserves”, bringing in new troops to Severodonetsk and surrounding areas.

Read More: ‘Surrender or perish,’ says rebel commander