“Today, on July 3, 2022, the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, General Sergei Shoigu, informed the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin about the liberation of the Luhansk People’s Republic,” reports the press. The release of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Lisichansk is the last large city that remained under the control of Ukraine in the Luhansk Oblast. It is located on the west bank of the Donets-Siuersky River. Severodonetsk collapsed on the other side last week.

The capture of the two cities was Russia’s short-term goal during the invasion of Ukraine. However, the Kremlin gradually limited its plans, announcing the Battle of Donbass in April, in which it wanted to encircle most of the Ukrainian army and capture the entire territory of the Luhansk and Donetsk states.

The Ukrainians managed to destroy the crossings through the Doniec Siewierski, but the Russians approached Lisiczańsk from the south. A few weeks ago, they succeeded in penetrating the Ukrainian defense near the city of Popasna.

And on Saturday evening, recordings of Russian troops in the city center appeared on the Internet. The head of the Luhansk region, Serhiy Heidi, said Sunday morning that the Russians are in the city and are moving forward..

Officially, the Ukrainian authorities have not confirmed the loss of Lyzhchansk. And the National Guard announced, on Sunday morning, that the fighting was taking place outside the city and that the soldiers were not surrounded by the Russians.

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