Heavy fighting occurred at Popasna, south of Severodonetsk, with the Army General Staff reporting defenses were holding.

Heavy fighting occurred at Popasna, south of Severodonetsk

Four high-rise buildings caught fire in Severodonetsk as a result of shelling overnight on April 16-17

Three high-rise buildings on the same street caught fire after being hit by shelling

Rescuers went to the site after Russian occupiers stopped firing

Numerous apartment fires were recorded

70% of Severodonetsk is destroyed according to Mayor Oleksandr Striuk

Artillery shelling lasted for a day and became more frequent and powerful at night, damaging seven residential houses and other structures.

Ukrainian defenders destroyed 15 tanks, 3 artillery systems, 24 units of armored vehicles, and 10 units of enemy vehicles.