Russia a step closer to stated goal of seizing Donbas region after capturing Lysychansk | ITV News
Russia has gained control of the last major city in Ukraine's Luhansk province, Moscow claims, taking the aggressor one step closer to its stated goal of seizing all of the Donbas region. Luhansk and neighbouring Donetsk are the two provinces that make up the Donbas, where Russia has focused its offensive since pulling back from northern Ukraine and the capital, Kyiv, in the spring. Pro-Russia separatists have held portions of both eastern provinces since 2014, and Moscow recognises all of Luhansk and Donetsk as sovereign republics. On Sunday, Russia's defence minister said that Russia's troops together with members of a local separatist militia "have established full control over the city of Lysychansk". Read more: https://bit.ly/3IcEJ0D • Subscribe to ITV News on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2lOHmNj • Get breaking news and more stories at http://www.itv.com/news Follow ITV News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itvnews/ Follow ITV News on Twitter: https://twitter.com/itvnews Follow ITV News on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itvnews/
