Eastern defenses shaken, Ukraine faces the heaviest week of fighting

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 Ukrainian authorities admit to losing control of some areas near the city of Lysychansk, where fierce clashes with Russian troops are taking place.

Ukrainian authorities on June 22 admitted to losing control of several communities near the city of Lysychansk, the only suburb in Lugansk province that Kiev still controls. The war in Lysychansk intensified after Russia took control of much of the neighboring city of Severodonetsk.


"Russian forces are approaching Lysychansk, entrenched in nearby towns. The city is being bombarded by aircraft," said Serhiy Hayday, head of the military-civilian administration of Lugansk province.


Mr Hayday acknowledged the situation was "very difficult" in the southern region of Lysychansk. "The enemy entered Toshkivka, allowing them to increase their firepower on other settlements," he said.


According to Hayday, Russian forces are entrenched in several villages south of Lysychansk, including Ustynivka, Pidlisne, Myrna Dolyna, and are advancing towards Bila Hora.


"It's not easy for our soldiers to hold their defenses," Hayday admitted.


Mr Hayday's statement showed that Ukraine's defenses around Lysychansk were beginning to come under significantly stronger Russian fire, after weeks of fierce fighting.


Mr Hayday said that "street fighting continues in the city of Severodonetsk", where Ukrainian forces still control part of the Azot chemical plant. Russian forces are said to be trying to encircle Ukrainian units in several areas near Lysychansk and Severodonetsk.


"Lysychansk is under intense shelling. The city is under fire from artillery, tanks and aircraft. At least three civilians and several policemen are injured," added Mr. Hayday.


The attacks near Lysychansk are happening at the same time as new Russian efforts to cut off the highway to Bakhmut, a key communication route for Ukrainian forces.


Ukraine's military said that Russia has assembled three battalion-level combat groups and air units in border areas as potential reinforcements. Ukraine confirmed that settlements near the city of Kharkov were heavily shelled. On June 21, 15 people were killed by shelling in the area.


In the eastern Donetsk region, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that Russian forces were using multiple rocket launchers "to facilitate the resumption of the offensive on the city of Sloviansk". .


Elsewhere, along the front line stretching more than 1,000km, the Ukrainian army recorded shelling of settlements in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia.


Analysts predict Ukraine is about to experience its fiercest week since Russian forces declared control of the city of Mariupol in May. More than 2,400 Ukrainian soldiers surrendered at the Azovstal iron and steel plant in Mariupol after weeks of resistance.


Mariupol is of strategic importance because it is located on the coast of Azov, which will open Russia a direct connection with military forces in the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014.


If Russia controls Severodonetsk and Lysychansk, Russia can create a springboard to take full control of the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine. After taking control of the Donbass, Russia could establish a corridor on the land connecting eastern Ukraine to the Crimean peninsula.

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