“Russia has an advantage, but we are doing everything possible,” said General Alexei Gromov, deputy chief of the main operations department of Ukraine’s General Staff.
The advancing Russian forces reportedly briefly occupied positions on the last highway outside the cities before being repulsed.
Luhansk Governor Sergei Gaidai said about 50 Russian troops had reached the highway and “managed to fortify” themselves, even setting up a checkpoint.
“The checkpoint was broken, they were thrown back … The Russian army does not control the route now, but they are shelling it,” he said in an interview published on social media. He said it was possible for Ukrainian troops to leave “one settlement, maybe two.” We must win the war, not the battle.
“It is clear that our boys are slowly retreating to stronger positions – we must keep this horde,” said Mr Gaidai.
“Heavy” Russian bombings have killed three people and caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure, including a humanitarian aid center in Severodonetsk and Lisichansk, he added.
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