Today, Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the continuation of the military operation in eastern Ukraine, after his forces took control of the entire Lugansk province in the Donbass region (eastern Ukraine), while the work of a conference began in Switzerland discussing the reconstruction of Ukraine.

During a meeting with his Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Putin said that the Russian forces should carry out their mission according to the approved plans, adding that the units that participated in the Lugansk operations can rest while other units continue their operations.

He added that two of his generals, Alexander Lapin and Asadullah Abachev, would be awarded the title of "Hero of Russia" for their role in the battles in Ukraine.

The Russian president said that the two generals submitted directly to him "a report on the course of carrying out their tasks and their proposals for the next stage of offensive operations."

For his part, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the work of the Russian forces is currently focused on clearing mines from Lyschansk and providing aid to citizens, as he put it.

Lysechansk was the last city held by Ukrainian forces in Luhansk Province, which together with Donetsk Province constitutes the Donbass region.

While the Ukrainian army admitted that Russian forces had entered the city of Lyschansk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pledged to take it back.

It is a painful loss, but not a serious setback, said the governor of Ukraine's Lugansk region, stressing that Russia's focus will now shift to the Donetsk region.


heavy bombardment

The Russian military now appears to be focusing its efforts on the main cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, which have been relentlessly bombed since Sunday, both located in Donetsk province.

The Ukrainian authorities have called on residents to leave, as the front line is now a few kilometers from Sloviansk.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced the destruction of two Ukrainian battalions of about 200 soldiers in the city of Kharkiv (east), using high-precision missiles.

Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov also announced the downing of a Ukrainian Su-25 fighter jet in an air clash with a Russian fighter, as well as the destruction of a Ukrainian paratrooper brigade in the Donetsk region.

For its part, the Ukrainian army announced that the Russian forces began carrying out a counter-attack to restore areas recently captured from Ukrainian soldiers in the outskirts of Kherson in the south of the country, including Ivanvka and Potemkina, without making any significant progress.

Ukrainian border guard spokesman Andrei Demachenko also said that strengthening the front with Belarus is a priority for his country, in light of its being bombarded by the Belarusian border.

He added in an interview with Al Jazeera that his country is doing everything in its power to strengthen the fronts, including with Belarus.

The Lugano conference discusses for two days the reconstruction of Ukraine despite the continuation of the war (Reuters)

Emaar Ukraine

Politically, the Lugano Conference, which was originally scheduled before the Russian war, is held on Monday and Tuesday, in an attempt to chart the future reconstruction of Ukraine.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmyal and Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk arrived in the Swiss city of Lugano, and they will meet, in particular, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen;

To lay the foundations of the "Marshall Plan" for Ukraine, although the end of the war is not in sight, and estimates range from tens to hundreds of billions of dollars.

In a speech to the conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that "Russia is systematically destroying the infrastructure of our country... and the reconstruction of Ukraine will constitute an essential contribution to world peace."

Zelensky added that his country is facing great economic and social challenges, calling for providing medical aid to its people.

For her part, the President of the European Commission said that Ukraine could emerge from the war stronger and more developed.