Severodonetsk

Smoke billows the air from a residential buildings following explosions, in Kyiv, Ukraine, June 26, 2022. (Nariman El-Mofty/AP)

June 26, 2022, 10:33 am

Explosions rock Kyiv, Russians ‘fully occupy’ key eastern city

For 1st time in 3 weeks, Ukraine capital hit in what mayor calls ‘intimidation’; Moscow’s forces seize Severodonetsk, battle moves to neighboring Lysychansk

By Blaise GAUQUELIN

A picture taken on June 21, 2022, from the town of Lysychansk shows a large plume of smoke rising on the horizon behind the town of Severodonetsk, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Anatolii Stepanov/AFP)

June 25, 2022, 8:19 pm

Ukraine’s Severodonetsk ‘fully occupied’ as Russians shift focus to neighboring city

Pro-Moscow separatists report street fighting in Lysychansk; Putin says Russia to provide Belarus with nuclear-capable missiles

By Benoit Finck, Blaise GAUQUELIN and Anna MALPAS

A woman mourns over the body of her relative who was reportedly killed by a cluster rocket in the city of Lysychansk in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas on June 18, 2022 amid the Russian invasion of the country. (ARIS MESSINIS / AFP)

June 20, 2022, 3:09 pm

‘It’s just hell’: Russia continues to pound cities in eastern Ukraine

Eastern Luhansk region has in recent weeks become the focal point of Moscow’s offensive; ‘Everything is engulfed in fire, the shelling doesn’t stop,’ says governor

By John Leicester and david keyton

A Ukrainian tank is in position during heavy fighting on the front line in Severodonetsk, the Luhansk region, Ukraine, June 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Oleksandr Ratushniak)

June 15, 2022, 3:52 pm

Ukraine pleads with West for heavy weapons as Russia presses to cut off key city

Zelensky aide says Ukrainian artillery outnumbered 10 to one; Moscow announces humanitarian corridor to evacuate civilians from besieged chemical plant in Severodonetsk

By Anna MALPAS and Max Delany

The gutted remains of cars sit along a road during heavy fighting at the front line in Severodonetsk in the Luhansk region of Ukraine, June 8, 2022. (Oleksandr Ratushniak/AP)

June 13, 2022, 9:13 am

Zelensky: Ukrainian, Russian forces fighting for ‘every meter’ in Severodonetsk

Region’s governor says by attacking last remaining bridges, Russians aimed to cut key industrial city off from rest of country

By Anna MALPAS and Benoit Finck

A damaged building is pictured in Lysychansk as black smoke and dirt rise from the nearby city of Severodonetsk during fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops, in the eastern Ukraine region of Donbas on June 9, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP)

June 13, 2022, 12:22 am

Russia strikes depot in western Ukraine as battle for key Donbas city rages

Moscow says it targeted site where Western-supplied weapons stored; top EU official promises answer on Ukrainian bid to join bloc by next week

By Anna MALPAS and Benoit Finck

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, left, listens to a servicemen report close to the front line in Donetsk region, Ukraine, June 5, 2022. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

June 12, 2022, 3:16 pm

Zelensky says Ukrainian troops continue to defy predictions

‘It’s already the 108th day of the war, already June. Donbas is holding on,’ Ukrainian leader says; Moscow extends its war timeline until October

By david keyton and John Leicester

A Ukrainian serviceman stands in front of a burning vehicle during an artillery duel between Ukrainian and Russian troops in the city of Lysychansk, eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas, on June 11, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP)

June 11, 2022, 5:37 pm

Ukraine, UK warn Russia is using more deadly weapons to achieve breakthrough in east

Moscow said to utilize highly inaccurate 1960s-era anti-ship missiles, able to cause severe collateral damage and casualties; Kyiv accuses Russian forces of using flamethrowers

By John Leicester and david keyton

A civilian militia man holds a shotgun and a rifle during training at a shooting range in outskirts Kyiv, Ukraine, June 7, 2022. (Natacha Pisarenko/AP)

June 8, 2022, 9:06 am

Zelensky defiant as Russia claims Severodonetsk’s residential areas

‘The absolutely heroic defense of Donbas continues,’ says Ukrainian president while street fighting rages on

By Blaise GAUQUELIN and Quentin Tyberghien

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, left, listens to a serviceman report close to front line in Donetsk region, Ukraine, June 5, 2022. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

June 6, 2022, 4:26 pm

Ukraine suffers setbacks in bid to retake parts of strategic city Severodonetsk

Russian FM Lavrov blasts European countries for blocking his plane from traveling to Serbia

By Blaise GAUQUELIN and Quentin Tyberghien

File: A heavily damaged car is seen on a street after a Russian attack in Severodonetsk, Luhansk region, Ukraine, Friday, May 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

June 6, 2022, 2:16 am

Ukraine says it’s regained ground from Russia in key eastern city

Senior official claims half of Severodonetsk again under control after Moscow’s forces driven back

By Blaise GAUQUELIN and Quentin Tyberghien

Smoke rising from several explosions that hit the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early in the morning, June 5, 2022. (Sergei SUPINSKY/AFP)

June 5, 2022, 1:28 pm

Russian missile barrage strikes Kyiv, shattering city’s month-long sense of calm

Unspecified ‘infrastructure’ attacked in first airstrike on Kyiv since late April, showing Moscow is still ready to hit capital despite focus on Ukraine’s east

By John Leicester

A woman runs from a house that's on fire after shelling in Donetsk, on the territory which is under the Government of the Donetsk People's Republic control, eastern Ukraine, June 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Alexei Alexandrov)

June 4, 2022, 2:38 pm

Kyiv says Russia pummeling civilian targets in eastern Ukraine in ‘creeping’ advance

Regional governor says street battles in Severodonetsk and neighboring Lysychansk; 4 killed, including mother and child, in Hirske; Ukraine staging counterattacks in south

By AP

Smoke rises during shelling at a factory in the city of Soledar in the region of Donbas, eastern Ukraine, June 3, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP)

June 4, 2022, 8:22 am

Ukraine claims Russian advance repelled in key eastern city

Regional governor says Ukrainian forces still control industrial area in Severodonetsk, vows ‘Russian infantry will run’ when long-range artillery arrives from West

By Blaise GAUQUELIN and Quentin Tyberghien

Smoke rises in the city of Severodonetsk during fighting between Ukrainian and Russian troops, in Ukraine's eastern region of Donbas on June 2, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP)

June 3, 2022, 10:53 am

100 days of war: Russia presses offensive as Zelensky vows ‘victory will be ours’

‘We are only getting stronger,’ a regional governor says as Russian forces further advance on city of Severodonetsk. ‘Hatred of the enemy, faith in our victory make us unbreakable’

By Quentin Tyberghien