• Russian missiles also rain down on western, northern and southern parts of the country.
• The fall of Severodonetsk is Moscow’s biggest victory since capturing Mariupol last month.
• Ukrainian attempt to turn the city’s Azot chemical plant into another centre of resistance is a failure.

The largest triumph for Russia was the fall of Severodonetsk. After weeks of fighting to hold the strategically important town; and most recent symbol of Ukrainian resistance falls; Severodonetsk has been completely occupied by Russian forces. This confirms Ukraine’s biggest battlefield setback; in more than a month. On Saturday, as the greatest land combat in Europe since World War II entered its fifth month; Russian missiles also descended on the western, northern, and southern regions of the nation.

Moscow’s biggest achievement since conquering the port of Mariupol; last month is the collapse of Severodonetsk; which was once home to more than 100,000 people; but has since been reduced to a wasteland of debris by Russian artillery.

Read More: Ukrainian forces ordered to leave Severodonetsk

The battleground in the east of Ukraine; where Moscow enjoyed a significant firepower advantage up until this point; has changed as a result of the city’s capitulation.

Oleksandr Stryuk, the city’s mayor; declared on public television that “Russia is now fully occupying the city.” He claimed that the city was effectively sealed off; making it impossible for anyone remaining behind to travel to Ukrainian-controlled area.

Read More: Russian attacks were repulsed