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July 3 (Reuters) – Russian troops have surrounded the city of Lysytchansk, the last stronghold of Ukrainian forces in eastern Ukraine, according to the Russian Defense Minister, quoted by the Tass agency on Sunday.
The Russian army, supported by local pro-Russian separatist forces, is concentrating its operations on the provinces of Luhansk and Donetsk, in the Donbass (East), to dislodge the Ukrainian forces.
Russian forces, with the support of elements of pro-Russian separatist forces from the self-proclaimed Republic of Luhansk, have taken control of villages around Lysychansk and are engaged in fighting against Ukrainian forces in the town itself, the report said. Minister of Defence.
The Ukrainian authorities could not be contacted immediately. (Reuters report, French version Sophie Louet)