Governor: Russians gaining foothold in pivotal Ukraine city

A Ukrainian serviceman at the front line near Kharkiv (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Russian forces are strengthening their positions in a gruelling fight to capture the last stronghold of resistance in eastern Ukraine’s Luhansk province, the region’s governor said on Sunday.

Ukrainian fighters have spent weeks trying to defend the city of Lysychansk, and to keep it from falling to Russia, as neighbouring Sievierodonetsk did a week ago. A presidential adviser predicted its fate could be determined within days.