Ukrainian forces retreating from eastern city Sievierodonetsk to avoid being encircled by Russians

Ukrainian forces are retreating from the besieged eastern city of Sievierodonetsk after weeks of a fierce, bloody battle, Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai said on Friday. 

Russian troops have been relentlessly bombarding the city, which is the administrative center of the Luhansk region, and the Ukrainians are retreating to avoid encirclement. 

Russia controls around 95% of the Luhansk province and around 50% of the neighboring Donetsk province. Both…