Russia closes in on Lysychansk as Ukraine suffers Donbas setback

Russia appears to have dealt Ukraine a setback in the battle for the Donbas, breaking through the defenses around Lysychansk while pounding Sievierodonetsk.

Russia appears to have dealt Ukraine a significant setback in the battle for the country’s east, breaking through the defenses around a key city and opening the possibility that Kyiv’s troops in the area could be surrounded. 

In recent days, Russian forces have gained ground around Lysychansk, according to Ukrainian officials and Western military analysts, closing in on that city while fighting for full control of its battle-scarred twin, Sievierodonetsk.

The advance puts Russia in sight of capturing or surrounding the last two holdout cities in the Luhansk province, which together with the neighboring Donetsk form the eastern industrial region of the Donbas that has become the focal point of the war.

This phase of the conflict has been marked by brutal artillery exchanges, with Kyiv urging the United States and its Western allies to urgently send more of the heavy firepower it needs to counter Moscow’s forces.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-advances-lysychansk-ukraine-donbas-setback-rcna34695

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