Ukraine is already a candidate to join the European Union

Russian troops continue to advance in the Lugansk region, in eastern Ukraine, where they have taken several towns although they have not managed to gain full control of Severodonetsk, a strategic administrative enclave. Since yesterday, the Loskutivka and Rai-Oleksandrivka settlements in that region, which together with Donetsk form the donbas, “have been occupied by the enemy,” the head of the Regional Military Administration, Serhiy Haidai, announced Thursday on his Facebook page. “However, we continue to deter the Russians in Severodonetsk and Syrotyne, repelling attacks in Zolote and Vovchoyarivka,” two other enclaves in the area, according to the military official. “The occupants are destroying the industrial capacities in Severodonetsk. This time, a brick factory was attacked, as well as the Skloplastyk fiberglass plant, as well as a chemical equipment factory,” he added. One of the buildings of the Azot chemical plant facility, where several hundred Ukrainian civilians and military personnel are still sheltering, was also damaged in one of the enemy attacks. On the other hand, Lisichansk, another important town in the area, was bombed several times in the last few hours. “There was damage to one of the schools in the city. One person was killed and three were injured,” he said.