Zelensky's Advisor Admits Key Eastern Ukraine City Could Fall

Russian forces seized Lysychansk's sister city Severodonetsk on the opposite side of the Siverskiy Donets river last month.

Fighting intensified at the weekend for Lysychansk, Ukraine's last big bastion in the strategic eastern province of Luhansk, and an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky conceded the city could fall.

Russian forces seized Lysychansk's sister city Severodonetsk on the opposite side of the Siverskiy Donets river last month, after some of the heaviest fighting of the war.

Rodion Miroshnik, ambassador to Russia of the pro-Moscow self-styled Luhansk People's Republic, told Russian television "Lysychansk has been brought under control," but added: "Unfortunately, it is not yet liberated."

Russian media showed video of Luhansk militia parading in Lysychansk streets waving flags and cheering, but Ukraine National Guard spokesman Ruslan Muzychuk told Ukrainian television the city remained in Ukrainian hands.