Russia-Ukraine war live updates: Zelensky defiant despite Donbas setbacks, possible retreat from Severodonetsk

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday pledged to continue fighting for the eastern region of Donbas, where Russian forces have taken more territory in recent days. “If the occupiers think that Lyman or Severodonetsk will be theirs, they are wrong,” he said, referring to two cities in the region that are under heavy attack. The Kremlin has claimed the strategically important city of Lyman and a regional governor said that a retreat was possible to avoid being encircled in Severodonetsk, where fighting continues on the city’s outskirts.