Russia continues attempts to capture towns and villages on border between Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts

IRYNA BALACHUK – TUESDAY, 12 JULY 2022, 08:31

Russian occupying forces continue to conduct artillery and rocket strikes in order to capture villages and towns situated on the administrative border between Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts and to blockade the bigger cities in the area.

Source: Serhii Haidai, head of the Luhansk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "Our soldiers are holding their ground and defying Russian attempts to create favourable conditions for a future offensive.

Despite the ‘operational pause’ [Russia has claimed to be taking in eastern Ukraine - ed.], the occupiers continue to carry out artillery and missile strikes and to attempt to capture villages and towns situated on the border between Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts in order to blockade the bigger cities. Villages [in the area - ed.] were hit by at least four airstrikes on 11 July."

Details: The head of the Luhansk Oblast Military Administration said that artillery shelling in the oblast is relentless, sometimes lasting as long as four to six hours at a time. Russian forces carried out at least eight artillery and three mortar attacks on 11 July and on the night of 11-12 July.

Haidai emphasised that the Russian occupying forces are inflicting substantial damage on housing and civilian infrastructure in Luhansk Oblast. He said that Bilohorivka, Rubizhne and Verkhnokamianske are almost unrecognisable.

He added that in the three months that the city of Rubizhne has been occupied by Russian forces, the Russians have only been able to inspect residential neighbourhoods but have not yet restored the supply of electricity, water and gas which had been cut off months ago – despite the promises to do so made on Russian propaganda TV.

Meanwhile, municipal utility equipment has begun to "disappear" in the city of Lysychansk, which has only recently been occupied by Russia. Haidai said that the equipment is simply being taken away by the Russians to an unknown destination.