Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday that the Russian army had “completely liberated” the residential areas of Severodonetsk, a city in eastern Ukraine and the current epicenter of fighting in the region.

“The residential areas of Severodonetsk have been completely liberated,” he said during a briefing broadcast on television, adding that “the takeover of its industrial zone and neighboring localities continues”.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday virulently expressed his “hatred” of “degenerates” who want the “death” of Russia, remarks which illustrate the stiffening of certain officials in Moscow in the midst of an offensive against Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that 20-25 million tonnes of grain are currently stuck in Ukraine due to the war. Above all, this volume could, according to him, triple by the fall. “We need maritime corridors and we are discussing this with Turkey and the United Kingdom” as well as with the UN, he further explained.

Sergei Shoigu announced that the Russian army had taken control of Lyman, west of Severodonestk, Sviatohirsk, and fifteen other localities. At this rate, Severodonestk could quickly be completely surrounded. The Russians could thus turn to Sloviansk and Kramatorsk even before its surrender.

At the same time, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says that Russian forces have control of 97% of the Lugansk region, where the city of Severodonetsk is located. He nevertheless recognizes that “the Ukrainians are repelling the attacks” in the street battles of this industrial city.