I’m quoting a Russian source (believed to be Wagner PMC) but one which has not hesitated to criticise Russian tactics and equipment. Hence I tend to give greater weightage to what they say.
https://t.me/grey_zone/14125
Translation:
There are reports of 5,000- 10,000 Ukranian troops defending in Severodonetsk and Lysichansk. I think he is referring to these.War in Ukraine (05/20/22 at 9:00): psychological breakdown of the Armed Forces of Ukraine - Kharkiv, Severodonetsk, Mariupol
Yesterday, events took place in the Popasna area, which will very soon close the shameful Azovstal "case" for Kyiv and open a new one, "Severodonetsk-Lysichansk", no less problematic and shameful.
But the most important thing is that together these events can break the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which for official Kyiv will be worse than any losses at the front and the surrender of the cities themselves ...