Russia's defence minister,Sergei Shoigu, said that Moscow forces are in control of 97% of Lugansk in eastern Ukraine.
Russian forces have seized residential districts of the city of Severodonetsk and are fighting to take control of an industrial zone on its outskirts and in nearby towns, Shoigu said.
The governor of Lugansk, Sherhiy Haidai, acknowledged that Russian forces control the industrial outskirts of the city, telling the Associated Press, "The fiercest fighting continues. The situation is constantly changing, but the Ukrainians are repelling attacks."
In nearby Lysychansk, the other Donbass town withstanding the Russian onslaught, Russian troops bombed a local market, a school and a college building, destroying the latter, Haidai said.
"The total destruction of the city is underway, Russian shelling has intensified significantly in the last 24 hours. The Russians are using scorched earth tactics," he said."
Shoigu, for his part, said Russian troops are pushing toward the town of Popasna, about 30 kilometers south of Severodonetsk, and that they have taken control of Lyman and Svyatohirsk and 15 other towns in the region."
Russia's defense minister said 6.489 Ukrainian soldiers have been captured since the start of military action in Ukraine, including 126 in the last five days.
[/P]Source.gr
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
