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Clouds of smoke over Lysychansk, a former city in eastern Ukraine
Photo: Narciso Contreras / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images
According to Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, Russia has taken the former city of Lysychansk in eastern Ukraine.
This means that the entire eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk has now been »liberated«.
Shoigu reported this to Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a statement from his ministry.
Russian troops and pro-Russian fighters had "taken complete control" of nearby towns as well.
Ukraine has contradicted the information.
The city is not under full Russian control, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense in Kyiv told the BBC on Sunday.
However, the situation has been "very intense" for some time now, with Russian troops constantly attacking the city.
In the war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia is currently concentrating on driving out the defenders from the Luhansk and Donetsk regions in the east of the country.
Previously, Ukrainian units had thwarted the capture of Kiev by Russian troops.
Lysychansk's neighboring city of Sievjerodonetsk was captured by Russian troops a week ago.
After taking Lysychansk, Russian troops could now also target Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in Donetsk, the second Donbass sub-region.
In 2014, pro-Russian separatists proclaimed self-proclaimed "people's republics" in parts of both regions.
Several residential buildings in Melitopol under fire
The military administration of occupied Melitopol has confirmed an attack on the city in eastern Ukraine.
According to her, several residential buildings were damaged by rocket launcher fire, but there were no fatalities.
In addition, a train that brought food from Crimea to the city was shot at.
While Russian troops were able to capture Melitopol relatively quickly after beginning their invasion, resistance to Russian occupation persists in the second largest city in the Zaporizhia Oblast.
Recently, increased partisan activities and attacks on pro-Russian officials in the region have been reported.
Explosions in the Russian city of Belgorod
Meanwhile, three people were killed in explosions in the Russian city of Belgorod near the border with Ukraine, according to the region's governor.
According to the Tass agency, Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote this in the Telegram news service.
Four other people were injured, including a 10-year-old child.
In addition, 50 houses were damaged.
The causes of the incident are being investigated and the air defense system is expected to be activated.
The information could not be independently verified.
Russia launched a war of aggression against neighboring Ukraine on February 24 and since then has repeatedly complained about attacks on its own territory.
In addition to Belgorod, other Russian regions - including Kursk and Bryansk - repeatedly accuse the Ukrainian side of shelling.
Kyiv usually does not comment on the allegations.
Nil/dpa/AFP
