Government controlled #Luhansk region in #Donbas is one of bloodiest fronts in #Russia's war on #Ukraine. This is footage of shelling of Starobilsk, the sleepy center of the region's rural north and home to hundreds of IDPs from Russia's 2014 invasion of Donbas. 1/
The 2014 war passed quiet, thinly populated north #Luhansk by with its blackearth fields and chalk hills. But this time Russian troops pushed thru border at nearby Bilovodsk, perhaps hoping to catch regional capital of Severodonetsk in pincer. 2/
And so moved hard on Starobilsk, shelling the Vatutin neighborhood of apartment houses. A beekeeper from there posted this video on a viber group for comparing honey prices. War is everywhere now. Local sources say that the UA army still holds Starobilsk. 3/
Other side of the pincer, to the south, is small city of #Schastia with its huge Luhansk Thermo-electric plant. Schastia looks across Siversky Donets River at separatist controlled outskirts of Luhansk. RU/separatist forces have been shelling it intensely since mid-Feburary. 4/
Power plant has been in flames and mostly idled. Only a reserve line strung in from Kharkiv in 2019 keeps the lights on in govt-controlled Luhansk region 5/
I saw results of shelling of Schastia after terrible artillery duel in winter 2014-15 that ended w/ Minsk II agreement. Scarred but addressed by international aid orgs fairly quick. What's happening now is much worse. Perhaps comparable to RU operations on Debaltseve in 2014. 6/
Relentless pounding before advance to take control. Local governor and media report terrible death toll but aid access basically impossible. UA army blew up the Schastia bridge to prevent tank crossing. And claims to still hold the ravaged town. 7/
Images from local site tribun.com.ua 
The fear is that Russia is moving to u ite this territory w/"Luhansk Peoples Republic" in industrial south of the oblast, along with four gov-controlled cities of Severodontesk, Lysychansk, Rubizhne and Popasna. But so far Russia hasn't engaged needed force. 9/
Rumors flying thick that cities will be abandoned to the separatists. Here Luhansk Oblast governor flatly denies, saying UA army is actively defending and beating back tank attacks, such as at frontline Trekhizbenka. Defiant. 10/ facebook.com/sergey.gaidai.…
We made it into Poland but are breathlessly following news from Luhansk Oblast, where our home, friends and relatives remain. END
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
