Russians edge closer to taking key Ukrainian city

Midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko breaks down during a press conference ahead of Ukraine's World Cup qualifier with Scotland

The United States is sending Himars, an advanced multiple rocket system to Ukraine

Russian forces edged closer Thursday to taking a key Ukrainian city after days of intense fighting, tightening their slow squeeze on the eastern Donbas region as Washington warned the war could last months.

The industrial hub of Severodonetsk has become a key target for Moscow, and the local governor said that 80 percent of the city was now under Russian control. 

Ukraine stopped Russia from seizing Kyiv after its February invasion but the campaign in the east has had a high cost, with President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly saying that up to 100 Ukrainian soldiers are dying daily.

"The enemy has a decisive advantage in artillery," Zaluzhnyi told France's top general, Thierry Burkhard, in a phone call, adding he want his units to be equipped with weapons of the type used by military alliance NATO.

Ukrainian forces received a boost this week when US President Joe Biden announced that more advanced rocket systems were on the way.

They are the centrepiece of a $700 million package unveiled Wednesday that also includes air-surveillance radar, more Javelin short-range anti-tank rockets, artillery ammunition, helicopters, vehicles and spare parts.

- 'Fuel to the fire' -

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said there were no signs of Russia pulling back its forces: "As best we can assess right now, we are still looking at many months of conflict."

West of Severodonetsk, in the city of Sloviansk, AFP journalists saw buildings destroyed by a rocket attack in which three people died and six others were hurt.

The European Union has also sent weapons and cash for Ukraine, while levelling unprecedented economic sanctions on Moscow.

EU leaders agreed this week to ban most Russian oil imports but played down the prospects of shutting off Russian gas on which many member states are hugely dependent.

And Russian energy giant Gazprom said its gas exports to countries outside the former Soviet Union dropped by more than a quarter year-on-year between January and May after losing several European clients.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has sparked a rethinking of security for many Europeans, with Finland and Sweden shedding earlier reluctance to join NATO.

"Tonight Denmark has sent a very important signal. To our allies in Europe and NATO, and to Putin," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told cheering supporters.

Russia's invasion -- which is set to enter its 100th day this week -- has killed thousands of people and sent millions of Ukrainians fleeing, but also risks triggering a global food crisis. 

In Glasgow, Ukraine's national side played its first official match since Russia's invasion Wednesday, defeating Scotland 3-1, setting up a World Cup play-off decider against Wales.

"I want to use today's match as an opportunity to make a request: stop the invasion. There is absolutely no justification for this continued violence," said the three-time World Cup champion.

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