In a statement posted on Facebook, the Ukrainian armed forces claimed that “the Russian army is constantly complaining about the lack of rotation, the equipment that is constantly failing, the quality of the food and fuel provided.” Ukraine reported relatively little fighting overnight, but said Russia had continued to launch airstrikes on Mariupol, where Ukrainian units surrounded by a steel plant were still resisting. The armed forces also claimed that in Russian-occupied areas “the looting and violence by the Russian army against the civilian population continues. These actions are encouraged by their military administration.” The Joint Forces of Ukraine, which is responsible for military action in the east, said 10 attacks by Russian troops were repulsed on Saturday and that 15 Russian tanks and other equipment were destroyed. Some Russian bombings continued into the night, according to regional authorities. Serhii Haidai, head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, said four high-rise buildings in the city of Severodonetsk had been hit and set on fire. He did not provide details about the victims. Haidai had previously estimated that 70% of the city had already been destroyed. “There is almost nothing to destroy there. The enemy has destroyed most of the houses in the last six weeks,” Haidai said. Haidai also said one person was injured in bombings in the neighboring city of Kremlin.
