Ukraine Says, Russia Trying To Block City Of Lysychansk

Russian arm is attempting to cut off the strategic twin cities in eastern Ukraine, the city of Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk which have been reduced to rubble.

As Russia has launched massive airstrikes and artillery bombardments, as Lysychansky is becoming the next focus of main fighting areas far from the middle of the eastern battles.

As per the Interfax news agency of Russia, after Ukraine forms on Saturday were ordered to withdraw from Sievierodonetsk, the Russian armed forces entered Lysychansk, the last city under the control of Kyiv in Luhansk province.

The entire Luhansk region along with the eastern Donbas region could come under the control of Russia if the city of Lysychansk falls, which will be another strategic gain for the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, since the start of its military operation.

Andrei Marochko a pro-Russia separatist representative stated on Telegram that the Luhansk people’s militia of the Luhansk People’s Republic and the Russian military have entered the Lysychansk city and the fighting on the streets is currently taking place.

The Ukraine side has not immediately commented on it and this claim could not be verified independently.

The governor of Luhansk province Serhiy Haidai however stated on Facebook that separatist fighters and Russia trying to blockade south of Lysychansk. Haidai also said that the villages of Synetsky the Azot chemical plant in Sievierodonetsk and Pavlograd, and others, were also shelled, but did not mention the casualties.

The self-proclaimed republic in Luhansk interior ministry official Vitaly Kiselev who is recognized by Russia told the news agency Tass that the full control of Lysychansk would be secured in another week and a half.

Luhansk almost 95% is under the control of Moscow’s forces whereas about half of Donetsk is also captured by the Russian troops.

Northern Military command of Ukraine stated that on Saturday in a separate development 20 rockets were fired from Belarus territory and targeted the northern Chernihiv region village of Desna. Where no casualties had been reported yet, though infrastructures were hit.

Although Belarus is officially not involved in the conflict, it has provided logistic support to Russia since the beginning of the military operation.

The intelligence service of Ukraine stated that today’s strike was directly linked to Moscow's effort to involve Belarus in the war in Ukraine.

The attack took place before a planned meeting in St Petersburg on Saturday between Putin and his close ally and counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.

Meantime, Maksym Kozytskyy the Lviv regional governor stated that four rockets from Russia hit a military object in Yaroviv. No details of the target were given by him, but, as per the Associated Press, a sizable military base is present in Yaroviv which is used for training fighters, also including the foreigners who volunteered for Ukraine to fight the war.

The Lviv region is described as the Ukrainian nationalism symbol and the soul of Ukraine, although it is far from the frontlines.

Ukraine pressed for more weapons on Friday again, as it is the most difficult time for Ukrainian troops since the beginning of the Russian invasion.