Russian troops have seized the village of Toshkivka close to Severodonetsk, the head of the Luhansk regional military administration, Serhiy Hayday, has said.
"Unfortunately, the enemy had success in this direction. They have sent a huge number of hardware and personnel there. Over 1.5 battalion-tactical group, heavy weapons... Indeed, they had success and captured Toshkivka," he said.
According to Hayday, the whole region is being shelled. Russian troops seek to encircle Ukrainian units along the Lysychansk-Bakhmut road, so far their attempts have not had success.
There are fatalities as a result of heavy Russian shelling of Lysychansk.
Hayday said Russia is pounding the town with MLRS, air bombs, rockets and other weapons.
"They are simply destroying everything. Very heavy artillery fire… Unfortunately, we have fatalities. But they [Russians] cannot enter Lysychansk," he said.
Earlier, Hayday said that Ukrainian troops only control the Azot plant in Severodonetsk.