War in Ukraine: Russian army takes control of Lysytchansk

On Sunday July 3, the Ukrainian army announced its withdrawal from Lysytchansk. Russia announced that it had conquered this city and controlled the entire Luhansk region. A key breakthrough in the Battle of Donbass. “We are here in Lysytchansk. The city has just fallen. It is now in the hands of the Russians and their separatist allies”explains Luc Lacroix, special correspondent for France Télévisions. “It looks like a battlefield, with charred vehicles in the middle of the streets. On the other side, buildings with damaged facades, broken windows. The inhabitants we have spoken to so far told us that now the situation was a little calmer. But you can still hear shelling in the distance.”he continues.

The inhabitants who remained on the spot and questioned by the journalist nevertheless say that “happy” of the arrival of the Russians. “Lyssychansk is south of a very important river, because it’s a natural barrier. It’s the Seversky Donets river. By being here the Russians now have a bridgehead to go even further far. In the Donbass, for example, to the cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk”concludes Luc Lacroix.