Russian-Ukraine War: Ukraine to withdraw from key city of Severodonetsk as Russia's advance grinds on

 Russian-Ukraine War: Ukraine to withdraw from key city of Severodonetsk as Russia's advance grinds on 

Ukrainian forces are withdrawing from Severodonetsk, effectively ceding the city to Russia and putting the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk almost fully under Russian control following months of grueling and bloody fighting

Severodonetsk was one of the last major Ukrainian strongholds in the area. Serhiy Hayday, a top military commander in east Ukraine, said the military made the decision to evacuate "because the number of dead in unfortified territories may grow every day."

"It makes no sense to stay," Hayday said.

It's unclear if Ukrainian forces are currently leaving the city, or if they have already evacuated.

Though the capture is a symbolic breakthrough for Russia, it comes after a lengthy and costly battle in which Moscow's forces were met with a stubborn Ukrainian resistance.

Russian forces have diverted much of their firepower toward overrunning the city, simply destroying every defensive position the Ukrainians have adopted. The strategy played out slowly, with the Russians making labored and sluggish gains around Severodonetsk throughout the spring and early summer.