Ukraine cornered by Russian attack on Severodonetsk

International Desk: Russian forces launched a major offensive in the eastern Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk on Tuesday. Ukrainian troops have been cornered as Russia intensifies operations to regain full control of the city. A spokesman for the country's armed forces said in a statement that Russia had launched a series of airstrikes and shelling targets of Ukrainian troops in Severodonetsk. According to Reuters, Russian troops occupied the suburban Metiolkin area on Sunday. Then on Monday they entered the main town. The mayor of the city, Serhi Hardai, said that a large part of the industrial area in Ukraine is now occupied by Russian troops. He added that Russian forces had wreaked havoc in the town of Lisichansk on the other side of the river. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Ukrainians were gaining momentum to retain control of the east. However he acknowledged that their numbers were not enough to defeat Russia's forces. Earlier, Russia called for the surrender of Ukrainian fighters who had taken refuge in the Azot chemical plant in Severodonetsk. The city's main connecting bridges were demolished by Russian troops.