Britain says Russia has taken control over most of Ukraine's Sievierodonetsk

FILE PHOTO: A man rides on a bicycle in front of a building after it was hit by shelling in Lysychansk, Luhansk region, Ukraine, April 16, 2022. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Russia has taken control of most of Ukraine's industrial city of Sievierodonetsk, Britain's defence ministry said on Thursday.

Britain said Ukraine likely remained in control of the river line in crossing sites between Sievierodonetsk and the neighbouring town of Lysychansk, and in the city of Lyman.

In both locations, Ukrainian forces have destroyed existing bridges, the ministry added in the intelligence update posted on Twitter.

A man rides a bicycle past a building destroyed during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the town of Rubizhne in the Luhansk region, Ukraine June 1, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

Reuters reported on Wednesday that Russians control 70% of the industrial city of Sievierodonetsk, citing a provincial governor.

(Reporting by Jaiveer Singh Shekhawat in Bengaluru; Editing by Edmund Blair)