Russia claims control of key town of Selydove in Donetsk region

(CLO) The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that it had captured the Ukrainian town of Selydove, located southeast of the important city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.

Selydove was a key point in Ukraine's defenses and played a key role in stopping Russia's advance toward Pokrovsk. Ukrainian officials have not yet commented on Russia's statement.

Images released by Russian state media on Tuesday showed troops raising the Russian flag in Selydove.

On Sunday, a spokesman for the Ukrainian national guard fighting in Selydove said the town had been under “constant attack from multiple directions” for the past week.

"Russia continues to attack with a large number of troops. They have used reserves from the north of the Pokrovsk line to increase pressure on Selydove," said Vitaliy Milovidov, spokesman for the 15th National Guards Brigade.

"At the same time, the enemy did not destroy the town's infrastructure. It is very likely that they wanted to keep Selydove as a key point in the future. Selydove is a large town, able to accommodate many people and store equipment," he added.

Russia's TASS news agency released a video on Tuesday showing Russian troops raising the flag at Selydove.

Russia also continued its air strikes on Ukrainian cities overnight Monday and early Tuesday, killing at least nine Ukrainians and wounding 46 others across the country.

In the Odesa region, a 71-year-old man was killed by debris from an intercepted Russian missile, which was launched from a fighter jet over the Black Sea.

In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, a Russian bomb destroyed much of the Derzhprom building - an important cultural icon because of its modern architecture.

Cao Phong (according to CNN, TASS)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nga-tuyen-bo-kiem-soat-thi-tran-quan-trong-selydove-o-vung-donetsk-post319121.html