President's Office reveals reason behind withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Lysychansk

The Office of the President of Ukraine has announced the reason for the withdrawal of the Ukrainian troops from Lysychansk, Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the head of the President's Office, said in an interview with Bild newspaper, Report informs.

"It is not a question of losing Donbas but of returning it properly. Now the Russian Armed Forces have an advantage in terms of long-range artillery. The war is already going on the principle of an artillery duel. 90% of casualties are caused by artillery strikes," he said.

According to Podolyak, the management of Ukrainian troops is better: "The question is not when Russia will take Donbas, but at what cost they will leave it. Russia fights with quantity, not quality. We, on the contrary, minimized losses."

Earlier, after heavy fighting, the Ukrainian Armed Forces retreated from their positions in Lysychansk, Luhansk Oblast.