An advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russian forces could soon encircle the eastern cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk and cut them off from Ukrainian territory.
Oleksiy Arestovych said: "The threat of a tactical Russian victory is there, but they haven't done it yet."
In a video address, President Zelensky claimed that Russia is attempting to wreck the Donbas region with "massive air and artillery strikes."
"The occupier's goal here is unchanged, they want to destroy the entire Donbas step-by-step," Zelensky stated, as per a report from BBC.
Ukraine's head of state also reiterated to Western leaders the need to deliver heavy artillery support for Ukrainian soldiers as soon as possible "to halt this diabolical armada and push it beyond Ukraine's borders."
Ukrainian forces have defended the twin cities to counter Russian troops' relentless attacks.
Ukraine Toops May Need To Retreat
Severodonetsk and Lysychansk, the last Ukrainian outposts in the Luhansk region, have received more Russian attention. In recent days, Moscow's forces appear to advance in their action to envelop Ukrainian troops there.
Serhiy Haidai, the regional governor, stated on Thursday that troops in the town of Zolote, which has been on the front lines of warfare since 2014, may be forced to withdraw because two important territories to the south of the cities have been captured.
Russian soldiers have pushed over 5 km (3 miles) this week towards Lysychansk's southern boundary, according to the UK Ministry of Defence's daily update.
Regional governor Serhiy Haidai said, after Russian forces conquered two settlements to its south, Ukrainian troops may need to withdraw from the frontline city of Lysychansk to prevent being surrounded.
"All of Lysychansk is within reach of their fire. It is very dangerous in the city," the official stated.
He said that a road remained connected to Lysychansk, allowing for the continuation of the evacuation of civilians. Separatists with Russian support had earlier claimed that the city was surrounded and blocked off from supplies, per the Russian news agency TASS.
US Sends Weapons Support While EU Gives Ukraine Candidate Status
Al Jazeera reported that Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov announced the arrival of American High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) in Ukraine on Thursday.
Reznikov tweeted: "Thank you to my US colleague and friend Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for these powerful tools! Summer will be hot for Russian occupiers. And the last one for some of them."
The European Parliament approved a resolution urging heads of state to provide Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova EU candidate status "without delay" at their meeting on Thursday and Friday, with 529 votes in favor, 45 votes against, and 14 abstentions,
The parliament stated that they should do the same for Georgia once its government has "delivered" the commitments expressed by the European Commission.
"Ukrainians, Moldovans, and Georgians deserve to live in free, democratic, and prosperous countries that are proud and committed members of the European family," the EU said in its statement.
Previously, per Euronews, the European Commission issued a positive assessment of Ukraine's application along with a list of modifications and measures that the nation must accomplish by the end of the year, particularly on the issues of corruption, money laundering, and media freedom.