Zelensky’s adviser considered that Lisichansk could fall
advisor to the president Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged that as fighting intensifies in Ukraine’s last major stronghold in the strategic eastern province of Luhansk, Lisichansk may fall.
Oleksiy Erestovich Reuters reported that Russian forces had finally crossed the Siversky Donets River and were moving north towards the major city.
“It really is a threat. We will see,” he said. “I do not rule out any of the many consequences here. Things will become more clear in a day or two.”
Ukrainian troops on the Eastern Front have described intense artillery barrages on residential areas, while Kyiv says Moscow has intensified missile attacks on cities far from the main eastern battlefields.
summary
Hello and welcome to the Guardian’s continuing coverage of the war in Ukraine. It is around 10 am in Kyiv. Here is a summary of the latest developments.
- At least three people have been killed and dozens of residential buildings damaged in the Russian city of Belgorod On Sunday, the region’s governor said, after reports of multiple explosions in the city near the Ukrainian border. Vyacheslav Gladkov said at least 11 apartment buildings and 39 private residential homes were damaged, with five completely destroyed. Reuters was not able to independently verify the reports and there was no immediate reaction from Ukraine. Gladkov said earlier on the Telegram messaging app: “The cause of the incident is being investigated. Presumably, the air defense system worked.”
- The Ukrainian military has rejected claims that Russian-backed separatists and Russian forces have besieged the key eastern city of Lisichansk. Ukraine’s National Security Guard spokesman Ruslan Muzitchuk said fighting was going on around the city but it was under Ukrainian control. Russian media showed videos of militias from Luhansk province waving flags and cheering on the streets of Lisichansk,
- British intelligence says Russian military continues to make “slight progress” lisichansk Between frequent air and artillery attacks. According to the latest report from the UK Defense Ministry, Ukrainian forces will likely continue to blockade Russian forces on the south-eastern outskirts of the city.
- According to Russian state media, Russia’s Defense Ministry has said that its forces destroyed five Ukrainian army command posts in the Donbass and Mykolaiv region. Three weapons storage sites in the Zaporizhzhya region of south-eastern Ukraine were also destroyed, the ministry was quoted as saying. The claims have not been independently verified.
- Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has claimed that Ukraine attempted to attack military facilities on Belarusian territory, Reuters reported, citing the state-run Belta news agency, that Lukashenko said – without providing evidence – that Ukrainian armed forces had tried to attack facilities in Belarus three days ago but the missiles were intercepted. He claimed that Ukraine was trying to provoke Belarus but that his country did not plan to interfere in the conflict.
- Rescuers have recovered 29 body pieces Amid the wreckage of deadly Russian missile attacks on a shopping center in Ukraine’s Kremenchuk city, Ukraine’s state emergency service said. At least 19 people were killed on Monday after two Russian X-22 cruise missiles hit a crowded shopping center in Kremenchuk.
- British government condemns exploitation of prisoners of war Russian proxies in eastern Ukraine pose as two more British men and could face the death penalty on charges of “mercenary activities”. Andrew Hill of Plymouth and Dylan Healy of Huntingdon were charged with “forcible seizure of power” and undergoing “terrorist” training, according to a state news agency in Russian-controlled Donetsk.
- A British and a Moroccan man sentenced to death by pro-Russian authorities in Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine have appealed against their sentence.Russian state media reported. Supreme Court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic According to the Russian state-owned news agency Tass, an appeal has been received from lawyers for Brahim Saadoun and Sean Piner. As Tass reports, another Briton sentenced to death by a Russian proxy court, Aiden Aslin, had not yet submitted an appeal.
- A series of recent assassination attempts to target pro-Russian officials suggest a growing resistance movement against Russian-backed officials occupying parts of southern Ukraine, according to US officials. CNN, citing officials, said the resistance could develop into a broader counteroffensive that would present a significant challenge to Russia’s ability to control occupied Ukrainian territories.