The latest update was provided by the governor of Ukraine’s Luhansk Oblast on Sunday morning, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Serhiy Haidai told local TV: “Azot is not blocked, fighting is going on in the streets next to the plant.”
Hundreds of civilians are hiding in bomb shelters inside the chemical factory, according to news outlets.
Azot under heavy shelling
“The Azot chemical plant has been under heavy shelling for hours," the governor said.
He added that Russian bombardment had caused a big fire at the factory following an oil leak.
Haidai predicted that Russian forces would try with all their efforts to capture Severodonetsk on Sunday or Monday.
Severodonetsk is the biggest remaining Ukrainian-held city in the Luhansk Oblast. It has been the main target of Russia’s attack as the Kremlin attempts to make an advance in the eastern Donbas region.
Sunday is day 109 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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Source: PAP, Reuters, bbc.com, telegraph.co.uk