Russia claimed control Sunday of the last major Ukrainian-held city in one of two eastern provinces that have been the focus of Moscow’s grinding war.
The BBC quoted a Ukrainian military spokesperson as denying Lysychansk was under full Russian control
A Ukrainian official, however, denied Moscow’s control was complete.
“For Ukrainians, the value of human life is a top priority, so sometimes we may retreat from certain areas so that we can retake them in the future,” Sak added. Ukrainian fighters spent weeks trying to keep Lysychansk from falling to Russia, as neighboring Sievierodonetsk did a week ago in bloody battles that devastated both cities. The capture of Lysychansk would give the Russians a stronger base to intensify attacks on the second province in the Donbas, Donetsk.
Kramatorsk, another major city in the Donetsk region, also came under fire, the regional administration said.
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