Russia claims capture of pivotal city in eastern Ukraine

Moscow’s defence minister has said Russian forces have taken control of Lysychansk, the last major Ukrainian-held city in Luhansk province (Luhansk region military administration/AP)

Russia’s defence minister has said the country’s forces have taken control of the last major Ukrainian-held city in Luhansk province, taking Moscow closer to its stated goal of seizing all of Ukraine’s Donbas region.

Sergei Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin on Sunday that Russia’s troops, together with members of a local separatist militia, “have established full control over the city of Lysychansk”, Russian news agencies reported.