Russia claims capture of pivotal city

SLOVIANSK, Ukraine－Russia claimed on Sunday to have captured the strategic Ukrainian city of Lysychansk and the entire frontline Lugansk region, which would mark a decisive breakthrough for Moscow's forces seeking control of the country's east.

The development came as Russia reported that Ukraine launched cluster missiles at Belgorod, killing four people, and Belarus said it had intercepted missiles fired by Kyiv.

Lysychansk had been the last major city in the Lugansk area of the eastern Donbas still in Ukrainian hands and its capture would signal a deeper push into the Donbas, Moscow's focus since retreating from Kyiv.

On Saturday, there were conflicting reports about Lysychansk's status with Ukraine denying Moscow's claim to have encircled the entire city, located across the river from neighboring Severodonetsk which Russian forces seized last week.

" (Defense Minister) Sergey Shoigu has informed the commander in chief of the Russian armed forces, Vladimir Putin, of the liberation of the People's Republic of Lugansk," the defense ministry said in a statement quoted by Russian news agencies.

In Russia, at least three people were killed and dozens of homes damaged by blasts in the Russian city of Belgorod near the Ukraine border, the regional governor said on Sunday.

Ukraine has yet to comment on the claim that Lysychansk has fallen following days of intense clashes.

Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported several explosions in the city of nearly 400,000, some 40 kilometers north of the border with Ukraine.

At least 11 apartment buildings and 39 houses were damaged, including five that were destroyed, Gladkov said on Telegram.

Moscow has accused Kyiv of numerous attacks on Belgorod and other regions bordering Ukraine. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.

Missiles intercepted

In Minsk, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday said his army had shot down missiles fired into Belarusian territory from Ukraine, amid growing speculation about Minsk's involvement in Kyiv's conflict with Moscow.

"We are being provoked," Lukashenko was quoted as saying by state news agency Belta. "Our Pantsir anti-air systems intercepted all the missiles fired by the Ukrainian forces."

In the diplomatic sphere, Russia's First Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dmitry Polyansky, said on Saturday that excluding Russia from the United Nations Security Council is possible only if the entire organization is disbanded and created anew, according to TASS.

He made the remarks in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's calls to strip Russia of its permanent member status on the council. Polyansky said Zelensky's comments "do not stand up to scrutiny".

In a daily address on Saturday, Zelensky said he looked forward to a conference on Ukraine's reconstruction set to start on Monday in Switzerland.

Leaders from dozens of countries and international organizations will gather in the city of Lugano with the aim of providing a plan for the country's recovery.

The need for reforms had been underscored by the European Commission, whose president, Ursula von der Leyen, has said the coveted European Union membership was "within reach" for Ukraine.

Agencies via Xinhua