Russia-Ukraine war: Pro-Moscow Luhansk militia take control of govt facilities in Rubizhne

As Russian aggression against Ukraine entered Day 23, Russian-backed Luhansk People's Republic forces in Ukraine's eastern Donbass region have taken control of government facilities in Rubizhne city. In video foot, brocast on People's Militia of Luhansk People's Republic's (LPR) official channel on Thursday, a uniformed soldier said, "We are located next to ministration of city Rubizhne. flag of (LPR) is flying here w. This means for local residents that, if war has t ended yet, n it is in its final sts", CNN reported. 

Furrmore, in ar video, soldier can be seen standing in Rubizhne mayor's office and hoisting an LPR flag on government building. It is worth ting that alongside Donetsk, Luhansk is one of two rebel territories supported by Vlimir Putin-led government. Parts of both areas are controlled by Ukraine, while ors are governed by pro-Moscow rebels. 

Heavy shelling continuing in Rubizhne: Luhansk regional ministrator

Meanwhile, regional ministrator of Luhansk, Serhiy Haidai, asserted during an interview with local media that heavy shelling is continuing in Rubizhne. " enemy is simply destroying all cities," Haidai stated in a video uploed to his Telegram channel late Thursday. He ded that attacks were longer selective. "Earlier y were shelling more or less selectively, today y are firing deliberately, qurant after qurant," regional ministrator was quoted by CNN as saying. 

"With continual fire, providing assistance to people in need is tough," Haidai said but stressed that an attempt would be me later this week with cooperation of Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to build an evacuation route to send supplies to significant cities, CNN reported.  

According to Haidai, Russian military demolished a boarding school for visually challenged children, as well as a hospital, and or military buildings in Rubizhne on Tuesday. He said that four individuals has lost ir lives during military strike.  Haidai went on to say that for past two weeks, people have been living in basements. Some of buildings have bomb bunkers. According to him, some bomb shelters can hold up to 1,200 people. 

Meanwhile, amid Russia-Ukraine war, Moscow has declared a -fly zone above Ukraine's Donbass area, according to a rebel spokesperson from Russian-backed separatists Donetsk People's Republic, Interfax News ncy reported on Friday.  -fly zone in Russia's south has been prolonged until March 26, according to a separate report by TASS. 

(Im: AP)