WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Russian-held Luhansk in eastern Ukraine attacked twice in one night

The Russian-held city of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine came under attack twice within three hours early on Tuesday, officials said, the latest in a series of strikes near the city.

Fires appeared to have broken out in both strikes. Ukraine made no official comment on either incident.

Leonid Pasechnik, Russia-installed governor of Luhansk region, said the first attack at about 9 p.m. (1800 GMT) was made with cluster munitions.

"A fire has broken out as a result of the attack," Pasechnik said, noting that information on casualties was being clarified.

Russia's Tass news agency, quoting emergency services, cited injuries.

Ukrainian media and war bloggers posted a picture of what they described as a large fire in the city.

A second strike hit the city at midnight, a Russian Foreign Ministry official said, apparently in the same general area.

Rodion Miroshnik, a special ambassador for the ministry, said city residents had heard two explosions in the same district as the site of the first attack.

"It cannot be ruled out that the repeat strike occurred at the site where rescue teams are dealing with the aftermath of the previous missile attack," Miroshnik wrote on Telegram.

Ukrainian news outlets said the target of the second strike was an airfield and posted a video of a fire spreading over a wide area.

Reuters could not independently confirm battlefield accounts or what weapon might have been used.

Ukraine's military has launched at least three attacks on Luhansk and nearby areas in recent weeks, targeting mainly fuel storage depots.

Russia annexed the Luhansk region several months after its February 2022 invasion, along with three other regions, though it does not fully control any of them.

Much of Luhansk has been occupied since 2014, when Russian-financed separatists took over swathes of territory in eastern Ukraine after large protests prompted Russia-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych to flee the country and Moscow's forces seized the Crimea peninsula.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day — top brass

Russian troops liberated the settlement of Ivanovka in the Kharkov Region and the settlement of Netailovo in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Monday.

"Battlegroup West units liberated the settlement of Ivanovka in the Kharkov Region and gained more advantageous positions… Battlegroup Center units liberated the settlement of Netailovo in the Donetsk People’s Republic and improved their tactical position," the ministry said in a statement.

Russian troops inflict over 300 casualties on Ukrainian army in Kharkov area over past day

Russian troops inflicted more than 300 casualties on the Ukrainian army in the Kharkov area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup North units continue advancing deep into the enemy defenses. They inflicted casualties on manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 125th mechanized and 112th territorial defense brigades in areas near the settlements of Konstantinovka and Granov in the Kharkov Region. They repulsed two counterattacks by enemy assault groups in areas near the settlements of Glubokoye and Volchansk in the Kharkov Region," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in the Kharkov direction over the past 24 hours amounted to 318 personnel, a tank and two armored combat vehicles, it specified.

In counterbattery fire, Russian troops destroyed a US-made 155mm M777 howitzer, a UK-made 155mm FH70 howitzer, a 152mm D-20 howitzer, three 122mm D-30 howitzers, a US-manufactured 105mm M119 artillery gun and a 122mm Grad multiple rocket launcher of the Ukrainian army, the ministry said.

Ukrainian army loses 130 troops in south Donetsk area over past day

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 130 troops in battles with Russian forces in the south Donetsk area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup East units took more advantageous positions and inflicted casualties on manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 128th territorial defense brigade near the settlement of Makarovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The Ukrainian army lost as many as 130 personnel, five motor vehicles, a 155mm M777 howitzer and a 155mm M198 howitzer of US manufacture," the ministry said.

Reuters/Tass