Ukraine still holds industrial zone in Severodonetsk

KYIV, June 09 (BBC/Reuters): BBC reported earlier on Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai's remarks about the situation in Severodonetsk. He said Ukrainian troops had been pushed back to the outskirts of the eastern city.

Haidai's added to that now, saying more than 90% of the region is "temporarily under Russian occupation", but repeated assurances that neighbouring Lysychansk remains out of Moscow's hands - for now.

Elsewhere, the head of Severodonetsk's military administration has described the fighting as "difficult but manageable". Oleksandr Stryuk said Ukrainian troops still held the industrial zone and adjacent areas in the city.

He added, in contrast to Haidai, that defence lines were holding but said it was now impossible to evacuate those still in Severodonetsk.

The BBC hasn't been able to independently verify these claims and it's important to note that as the fighting continues, views are likely to vary from official to official as they do their best to report what it is they're seeing and being told.

2 Britons, Moroccan risk death

penalty in Donetsk court

Two Britons and a Moroccan who were captured while fighting for Ukraine could face the death penalty after pleading guilty in a court of one of Russia's proxies in eastern Ukraine, Russia's RIA news agency reported.

Video published by RIA showed Britons Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner and Moroccan Brahim Saadoun in a courtroom cage with white bars.

RIA said Pinner and Saadoun had pleaded guilty to actions aimed at the violent seizure of power.

The video appeared to show Aslin pleading guilty to a lesser charge involving weapons and explosives. He was seen standing in the cage and leafing through a sheaf of legal documents as the charge was translated to him.

The news agency quoted prosecutors as saying the combined charges could mean the death penalty for all three.

Microsoft scales down Russia

operations due to Ukraine war

Microsoft Corp said on Wednesday it was making substantial cuts to its business in Russia, joining a string of companies that are reducing their exposure or pulling out of the country following its invasion of Ukraine.