Pro-Russian Rebels "Complete Encirclement of Lysychansk"... Ukraine "Fierce Fighting Underway"

[Photo by TASS Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Pro-Russian separatists claimed that Lysychansk, the last city in Luhansk Province controlled by the Ukrainian military, has been completely encircled by Russian forces.

According to TASS news agency, Andrey Marotsko, spokesperson for the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), said on the 2nd (local time), "Today, DPR and Russian forces have captured the last strategic high ground in Luhansk," adding, "This means Lysychansk is completely surrounded."

In contrast, the Ukrainian side denied the claim that the city was encircled and asserted that fierce battles are ongoing around Lysychansk.

According to AFP news agency, Ruslan Muzychuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian National Guard, said, "Although intense fighting is taking place around Lysychansk, fortunately the city is not encircled and remains under Ukrainian military control."

Lysychansk is a twin city facing Sievierodonetsk across the Siverskyi Donets River, with a population of about 100,000 before the Russian invasion.

Since the end of March, Russian forces have withdrawn from the northern front, including the capital Kyiv, and concentrated their troops on the eastern Donbas front (covering Donetsk and Luhansk). On the 25th of last month, they fully captured Sievierodonetsk, a strategic stronghold in Luhansk.

As a result, Lysychansk remains the only area in Luhansk Province under Ukrainian military control.