Ukraine news live: Moscow claims it has ‘liberated’ the eastern city of Lysychansk – as three die after explosions hit Russian city | World News
So… who is in control of Lysychansk?
It’s a good question – and one we don’t quite have a straight answer to.
The city – Ukraine’s last stronghold in the Luhansk region – has been the subject of competing claims for several days.
Confused about the situation? Let us explain…
This morning, Russia claimed to have encircled the city, saying “Russian troops and units of the Luhansk People’s Republic are fighting inside Lysychansk”.
Less than an hour later, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin that the city had been “liberated” by Moscow.
He said the Kremlin had “established full control over the city of Lysychansk”.
Shortly afterwards, the Ukrainian defence ministry told the BBC that the city is not under the control of Russian forces.
Yuriy Sak told the broadcaster that fighting has been “very intense for quite a while now” – but the fight for the Donbas is “not over”.
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Luhansk Oblast Administration told the Kyiv Independent that Lysychansk is still in Ukrainian hands.
She would not confirm how much of the city remains under the Ukrainian flag, but said it is only “one part” towards Zolotarivka in the west.
It is worth noting that the governor of Luhansk, Serhiy Haidai, said early this morning that the Russians are “entrenched” in the city.
Ukrainian officials did not immediately provide an update on its status.