Ukraine news - live: Putin’s troops ‘take control’ of last major eastern city Luhansk
Ukrainian fighters have spent weeks trying to defend Lysychansk after the fall of neighbouring Sievierodonetsk
Vladimir Putin has been informed by his defence minister that the eastern region of Luhansk has been “liberated” from Kyiv as he claimed Russia’s forces took control of the last major Ukrainian-held city of Lysychansk.
Sergei Shoigu’s announcement follows reports that Moscow had encircled the stronghold amid a fierce battle for its control.
An adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky earlier conceded that Lysychansk might fall to Russia - but had assumed the conclusion of the gruelling fight would not arrive until Monday.
Ukrainian fighters have spent weeks trying to defend Lysychansk and to keep it from falling to Russia, as neighbouring Sievierodonetsk did a week ago.
Earlier on Saturday, Ukraine’s state emergency service probing the 27 June bombing of a shopping mall in Kremenchuk found up to 29 body fragments in the wreckage. The bombing had claimed 21 lives while 66 were injured.
Russian president Vladimir Putin had said that troops intended to hit a weapons depot nearby, denying that the mall was a target.
Russia claims to have ‘liberated’ Luhansk region as six killed in attack on Slovyansk
Russia said on Sunday its forces had taken control of Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region, after capturing the final holdout city of Lysychansk.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin that Luhansk had been “liberated”, the defence ministry said, after Russia earlier said its forces had captured villages around Lysychansk and encircled the city.
The minister said Russian forces and their allies in the area had “gained full control over the city of Lysychansk”.
Russia claims to have captured Luhansk region as six killed in attack on Slovyansk
Moscow says it now has full control of the city of Lysychansk
Turkey detains Russian cargo ship carrying ‘stolen’ Kyiv grain
A Russian cargo ship carrying grain which Ukraine has accused them of stealing has been detained by Turkish customs authorities, Ukraine’s ambassador to Turkey has said.
Speaking on national Ukrainian television, Vasyl Bodnar said: “We have full co-operation. The ship is currently standing at the entrance to the port, it has been detained by the customs authorities of Turkey.”
He said that the fate of the ship was now in the hands of investigators, who will meet on Monday to scrutinise the matter.
Watch: Ukrainian houses hit by shelling in Sumy residential neighbourhood
Russian shelling 'kills six in eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk’
Six people were killed in Sloviansk on Sunday after the eastern Ukrainian city was hit by powerful shelling from Russian multiple rocket launchers, local officials said.
The attack was the worst shelling to hit the city recently and caused nearly 15 fires in the front line city in the industrial Donbas region that Russia is trying to capture, Mayor Vadym Lyakh wrote on Telegram.
Donetsk regional administration spokeswoman Tetiana Ihnatchenko told Ukraine’s public news network that 15 people had been wounded in the attack.
Reuters
‘Many killed and wounded’ after powerful shelling hits Sloviansk
Powerful shelling from multiple rocket launchers rained down on the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk was on Sunday, leaving many killed and wounded, local officials have said.
The city’s mayor Vadim Lyakh wrote on Telegram: “There are 15 fires. Many killed and wounded.”
He said it was the most powerful recent shelling of the city.
Images capture residents walking past damaged buildings in Slovyansk after an overnight missile strike.
Watch: Putin mocks Johnson for claiming he would not have invaded if he was a woman
Belgorod: Three dead as dozens of buildings hit by blasts in Russian city near Ukraine border
At least three people have died in Belgorod after the Russian city bordering Ukraine was hit by blasts early on Sunday, claims the local governor.
At least 11 apartment buildings and 39 private houses were damaged, while five homes were completely destroyed, said governor Vyacheslav Gladkov on Telegram.
Mr Gladkov had earlier said the city of nearly 400,000 was rocked by a series of blasts, adding: “Presumably, the air defence system worked.”
At least four people were injured and two hospitalised, including a 10-year-old boy, he said.
Namita Singh has more:
Three dead as dozens of buildings hit by blasts in Russian city near Ukraine border
Russian lawmaker blames Ukraine for attack, calling for a military response
Australia's PM visits Ukraine's Kyiv region
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has visited three war-ravaged towns in Ukraine’s Kyiv region, the local governor said on Sunday.
Governor Oleksiy Kuleba wrote on Telegram that Albanese visited the towns of Bucha, Irpin, and Hostomel, where Ukraine says Russia committed atrocities against civilians. Russia denies the allegations.
“Australia supports Ukraine and wants to see justice meted out for the crimes committed here,” Kuleba quoted Albanese as saying.
Reuters
Putin told Luhansk ‘liberated’ as last stronghold falls to Russia
Vladimir Putin has been informed by his defence minister that the eastern region of Luhansk has been “liberated” from Kyiv as Russia’s forces took control of the last major Ukrainian-held city of Lysychansk.
Sergei Shoigu’s announcement comes after Moscow’s military withdrew from the north of the country to focus its efforts on driving Ukrainian forces out of Luhansk and Donetsk regions in the east of the country, where Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting Kyiv since Russia‘s first military intervention in Ukraine in 2014.
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