“Disaster devastation” in Lyschansk in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine

The Russian army has inflicted "catastrophic destruction" in the city of Lyschansk, adjacent to Severodonetsk in the Donbass (east), the governor of Lugansk region Sergey Gaidai said on Tuesday.

Gaidai spoke on Telegram of "battles (circle) in the industrial zone of Severodonetsk and catastrophic destruction in Lysechhansk," noting that "the past twenty-four hours have been difficult" for the Ukrainian forces.

He said that "the strikes that targeted (three) bridges linking Severodonetsk and Lyschansk and destroyed them" are continuing and have further isolated Severodonetsk, with a population of about 100,000, from the rest of the territory under the control of Kyiv.

He stressed that "the Russians want to occupy the entire Luhansk region," which they currently control most of its territory, "before (Sunday) June 26."

But he stressed that they "will not be able to do so within five days."

Gaidai described the situation on Monday-Tuesday night as "the calm before the storm", expecting that Russian artillery bombardment will renew during the day.

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