Spokesperson claims they have ‘completely’ encircled last stronghold in Luhansk region
Russian-backed forces stepped up their assault on the Ukrainian city of Lysychansk on Saturday, as they claimed to have “completely” encircled the last stronghold in the Luhansk region.
If Lysychansk falls, the entire region of Luhansk – which along with Donetsk makes up the eastern Donbas region – could come under Russian control, marking another strategic breakthrough for Vladimir Putin.
Andrei Marotchko, a spokesperson for the Russian-backed forces, told the Russian state-owned news agency Tass: “Today the Luhansk popular militia and Russian forces occupied the last strategic heights, which allows us to confirm that Lysychansk is completely encircled.’’
