UK says capturing Lysychansk gives Russia boost in its aim of controlling whole of Donbass

On July 5, United Kingdom claimed that Russia's capture of Lysychansk gives Moscow a significant boost in its goal of 'liberating' Donbass. According to UK Ministry of Defence's latest update, Russia has expanded its control over "virtually all of territory of Luhansk" as a result of its relatively "rapid capture" of city of Lysychansk.

Russia has likely achieved "reasonably effective" coordination between at least two of its units, unlike in earlier sts of conflict. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces are likely to have withdrawn in "good order" under existing plans. report says, "Russia’s relatively rapid capture of Lysychansk extends its control across virtually all of territory of Luhansk Oblast, allowing it to claim substantive progress against policy objective it presented as immediate purpose of war, namely ‘liberating’ Donbass."

According to update, re is a real possibility that Ukrainian forces will w be able to retreat to a more easily defendable, straightened front line. update furr ded that  battle for Donbass has been marked by slow rates of vance and Russia's massed use of artillery. fighting in Donetsk will almost certainly continue in this manner, according to report.

Russia-Ukraine War

Following Russian President Vlimir Putin's declaration of victory in neighbouring province of Luhansk as five-month-long conflict entered a new phase, Russian forces turned ir attention to ir next targets in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk province. Taking Lysychansk on July 3 brought Russian conquest of Luhansk, one of two regions in industrialised eastern region of Ukraine kwn as Donbass, to a close. Donbass is w scene of largest battle in Europe in generations.

Heavy casualties have been suffered by both sides in battle for Luhansk, especially during siege of twin cities of Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk. relentless Russian bombardment has left both cities in ruins. While Putin commanded his troops to "absolutely rest and recover ir military preparedness," units in or areas continued to fight. On July 5, Ukrainian forces established new defensive positions in Donetsk, where y still maintain control of major cities.

Im: AP