Russian soldiers occupied several settlements near the Luhansk region in Ukraine.
On Tuesday, the regional governor and Ukraine’s military staff said Russian troops had taken control of numerous communities surrounding the besieged cities of Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk in the Luhansk region.
Serhiy Gaidai, the governor of Luhansk, informed Ukraine’s national radio that Russian soldiers had taken Toshkivka, a village south of Sievierodonetsk, before corroborating claims.
“Unfortunately, the enemy hurled massive quantities of artillery and troops against it, and Toshkivka was taken,” Gaidai stated.
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Separatist rebels in Ukraine supported by Russia claimed to have captured Toshkivka on Monday.
For weeks, Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have fought for control of Sievierodonetsk.
Russian soldiers also occupied the communities of Pidlisne and Myrna Dolyna, situated south of Lysychansk, according to Ukraine’s military command in its daily report.
Gaidai claimed Ukrainian forces defending Lysychansk had been shelled heavily by Russian heavy weapons but are maintaining their position.
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