Russian forces have been able to make small gains in the Lysychansk area by seizing parts of an oil refinery on the outskirts of the city, Luhansk region military administration chief Serhii Hayday said on Friday.
“Occupants are attacking the Lysychansk oil refinery, keeping the northwest and southeast parts of the plant,” Hayday said in a Telegram post.
Large Image: The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said: “[Russia] is concentrating its main efforts on encircling our troops in the Lysychansk area from the south and west, establishing complete control over the Luhansk region. “
Hayday made a similar analysis.
“The enemy is trying to surround the Ukrainian army, attacking Lysychansk from the south and west,” he said.
Russian forces have also carried out a new assault on the Bakhmut-Lysychansk highway, the main supply line in the city, but Ukrainian forces repelled them, Hayday added.
Within the city: the situation remains serious for the nearly 15,000 residents who remain in Lysychansk.
“Lysychansk residents spent almost 24 hours in basements and houses. The bombing of the city is very intense,” Hayday said. “Many residential houses and industrial facilities caught fire.”
Elsewhere in eastern Ukraine, the Russian army also intensified bombing of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, according to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.