Russia seizes last Luhansk city from Ukraine

The Russian military celebrated the conquest of the last Ukraine-held city in Luhansk yesterday, reporting to the Kremlin that it had taken a step closer to its “absolute priority” of taking the entire Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.

Russia’s defence minister said his forces had seized Lysychansk amid signs that embattled Ukrainian forces were retreating to avoid becoming encircled and losing hundreds of their most experienced soldiers.

Video posted to social media and verified by geolocation showed Russians soldiers driving and casually strolling unimpeded through the city’s centre, supporting reports of a Ukrainian withdrawal, despite claims from Kyiv that the Russians had not taken full control.

Ukrainian teenagers wait in a van to be driven to safety from the bombarded city earlier in the conflict

REUTERS

One video showed Russian soldiers posing for pictures outside what appeared to be Lysychansk city hall, holding the flag