The governor of Ukraine's Luhansk region, Serhiy Hayday, said today that there were about 10.000 Russian troops in the almost completely Russian-controlled eastern region.

"These units are constantly in the Luhansk region, trying to attack and advance in any direction," Haidai told Ukrainian television.

The Western media could not independently confirm the report.

Haidaj said last night that it was possible that Kyiv forces would be forced to withdraw from the last pocket of the resistance to avoid capture. According to him, Russian troops have entered Severodonetsk, the largest city in Donbas, which is still under Ukrainian control.

- The Russians will not be able to occupy the Luhansk region in the coming days, as analysts predicted. We will have enough strength and resources to defend ourselves. "However, we may have to withdraw so as not to be surrounded," he told the Telegram.

More than three months after the start of the Russian invasion, the large city of Severodonetsk is one of the last parts of Luhansk still under the control of the Ukrainian army. But fierce fighting has already begun near the city.

Observers fear that Ukrainian forces in Northeast could soon be surrounded by Russian and pro-Russian forces.