Street fighting and fires: The scene as fighting pummels Sievierodonetsk.

From the high ground across the river from the contested city of Sievierodonetsk, the precariousness of the Ukrainian position is clear.

The city is burning. As smoke rises, the boom of artillery thunders unceasingly. The clatter of small-arms fire from urban street battles echoes in the distance. Ukrainian soldiers still in control of Lysychansk, the twin city of Sievierodonetsk, scramble from bunkers to basements, seeking cover as mortars, artillery and rockets pound their position.

This is what a war of attrition looks like — both sides inflicting as much pain as they can while trying to hold their resolve. And in recent days Ukrainian officials have said that while there may be a need to withdraw from certain positions, the battle over the twin cities could prove pivotal in the war for the eastern region known as Donbas.

“In many ways, the fate of our Donbas is being decided there,” President Zelensky said. Read more

@nytimes