Ukraine says Russia trying to cut off Luhansk region

Russian troops want to cut off the Luhansk region from Ukraine; they are trying to gain a foothold on the banks of the Seversky Donets River and block the path to safe regions, head of the Luhansk military district administration Serhiy Gaidai said.

Report informs citing RBC-Ukraine that, according to Gaidai, active fighting continues in Rubizhne and Belogorovka.

"The Russian army is trying to seize the 'road of life'- the Lysichansk-Bakhmut highway. Thus, Ukraine may lose the only way to other areas where people were evacuated, and humanitarian aid was brought in," he said.

Gaidai stressed that 'today is a decisive day' since 'the enemy has built a pontoon crossing across the Seversky Donets, transported part of the equipment, and is trying to gain a foothold.'

Later in the telethon, Gaidai added that the Ukrainian defenders had destroyed the constructed bridge and continued to hold the line.