Sievierodonetsk, Siverodonetsk or Severodonetsk is a city in Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine. It is located to the northeast of the left bank of the Siverskyi Donets river and approximately to the northwest from the oblast capital, Luhansk. Sievierodonetsk faces neighbouring city Lysychansk across the river. The city, whose name comes from the above-mentioned river, had a 2022 population of making it then the second most populous city in the oblast. Since June 2022, it has been militarily occupied and administered by the Russian Federation. As of 2023, much of the city is in ruins due to war. Prior to the war, Sievierodonetsk had several factories and a significant chemical production centre "Azot", part of the Ostchem group. There was also an airport to the south of the city. From 2014 until 2022, Sievierodonetsk served as the administrative centre of Luhansk Oblast, due to the city of Luhansk falling under the control of the Luhansk People's Republic in early 2014, during the War in Donbas. As part of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sievierodonetsk came under heavy attack from Russian forces and was the forefront of the Battle of Donbas, resulting in extensive destruction to the city, including residential areas. By 25 June 2022, the city was completely captured by Russian and separatist forces, with Ukrainian authorities claiming that the civilian population was approximately 10,000, ten percent of its pre-war level. History Soviet era The foundation of modern Sievierodonetsk is closely connected with the beginning of construction of the Lysychansk Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant within the limits of Lysychansk, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union in 1934. Donets itself was already combined with Lysychansk. The first settlement of workers on the construction site was called Lyskhimstroi, near Donets. In September 1935, the first school was opened in the settlement, a silicate brick plant started production, and the first three residential two-story houses were built. In 1940, there were 47 houses, a school, a club, a kindergarten, a nursery, and 10 buildings of a chemical combine in Lyskhimstroi. During the Second World War, Lyskhimstroi and surrounding areas were occupied by German forces on 11 July 1942. On 1 February 1943, over half a year later, it was retaken by the 41st Guards Rifle Division and 110th Tank Brigade of the Red Army. Work to restore and expand the Lysychansk Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant began on 10 December 1943 and by 1946, the pre-war housing stock was