The United Nations has issued a warning that tens of thousands of civilians are besieged in the Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk, with crucial supplies running out. Many of them have taken refuge in bunkers beneath the Azot chemical facility in the city.
The city’s sole exit bridge was damaged in combat earlier this week, effectively trapping the city’s remaining 12,000 citizens within.
Capturing Severodonetsk has been a high military priority for Russia for weeks, and the country currently controls the majority of the city.
“The lack of water and sanitation is a major source of concern. It’s a major issue for us because people cannot live without water for long periods of time “Saviano Abreu, a spokesperson for the UN’s Humanitarian Affairs office, told the BBC.
Food and medical supplies were also running short in Severodonetsk, which is located in Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk area, according to Mr Abreu.
The UN hopes to offer help to those trapped in the city, but because to the ongoing violence, its agencies are unable to gain access or assurances that civilians, especially women, children, and the elderly, are safe.
The warning came after Russian vows earlier in the day to establish a humanitarian route to evacuate citizens trapped beneath the Azot nuclear power station.
However, no proof has been given that the planned safe passage, which would have evacuated inhabitants into Russian-controlled area to the city’s north, was actually implemented.
A pro-Russian rebel leader said on Wednesday that Ukrainian soldiers had “totally thwarted” the evacuation of residents besieged in the chemical factory.
“Militants are attempting to sabotage the evacuation at Azot! “Militants have started shooting a mortar and a tank from the plant’s property,” Rodion Miroshnik, the “ambassador,” said “According to Telegram, the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic has sent a message to Moscow. This assertion has not been verified.
Russian news sites also criticised Ukrainian forces for trapping civilians in the factory with their combatants, accusing them of using locals as “human shields.”
According to NTV, which is owned by Gazprom, there could be as many as 1,200 people trapped beneath the plant, including children.