Ukraine Says Russian Troops Are Trying to Cut Access to Sievierodonetsk

A local resident walks along an empty street with residential buildings damaged by a military strike, in Sievierodonetsk, Luhansk region, Ukraine, on April 16, 2022. Serhii Nuzhnenko/Reuters

KYIV—Kyiv said on Saturday Moscow had reinforced its troops around Sievierodonetsk and attempted to cut off Ukraine’s access to the industrial city, the focus of a Russian offensive to take the eastern Donbass region.

Serhiy Gaidai, governor of Luhansk Province, said Russian forces were blowing up bridges across the Siverskyi Donets river to prevent Ukraine bringing in military reinforcements in Sievierodonetsk.