28 Dead in Strike on Russian-Held Town in Eastern Ukraine

A recent assault on a building in Lysychansk, a town in the Russian-held Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine, resulted in the death of at least 28 individuals, according to Leonid Pasechnik, the leader appointed by Moscow in the Luhansk People’s Republic. Pasechnik announced on Telegram that emergency crews managed to rescue 10 people from the debris. He attributed the attack, which occurred on Saturday and targeted a structure containing a bakery, to Ukrainian forces.

Pasechnik also declared Sunday as a day of mourning in the Luhansk People’s Republic to honor the victims of the attack. The Ukrainian defense ministry has yet to issue a statement regarding this incident.

Lysychansk fell under Russian control in July 2022, marking the last major town in the crucial Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine to be captured.

Ukraine has been intensifying its offensives against Russia and territories under Russian control, with the ground offensive showing signs of slowing. Ukrainian military intelligence recently claimed to have sunk a Russian warship near Crimea, delivering a significant setback to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.

In recent developments, the Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting Ukrainian drones aimed at Moscow and St Petersburg. Additionally, a Ukrainian drone strike in January ignited a fire at an oil depot in Russia’s Bryansk region, adjacent to Ukraine. Ukraine also launched an attack on Belgorod, a Russian city near the border, in December, causing deaths and injuries. In response, Russia executed retaliatory strikes on Kharkiv.

Meanwhile, Russian forces are striving to penetrate Ukrainian defenses on the battlefield. A Ukrainian army member described their current strategy as “deep defense mode.” Russian troops are focusing on advancing towards Chasiv Yar, a strategically positioned town near Bakhmut, and have been concentrating for months on Avdiivka and its substantial coke plant, both of which they are trying to encircle.