The gains claimed by Russia would mark a decisive breakthrough for Moscow’s forces seeking control of eastern Ukraine, more than four months into their invasion and after turning their focus away from the capital Kyiv.

On Sunday, Russia accused Ukraine of firing three cluster missiles at the city of Belgorod, near the Ukrainian border and late Saturday, Belarus said it intercepted Ukrainian missiles.

“Sergei 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 Russian defence ministry said in a statement quoted by Russian news agencies.

Ukraine has yet to comment on the Russian claim that Lysychansk has fallen.

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

“It was intense and it was shooting from all sides,” said a woman sheltering in a cellar.

Two people were killed and three wounded — including two children — in a strike on the town of Dobropillya, local authorities in Donetsk said.

Zelensky said “colossal investments” would be needed and that 10 regions of Ukraine had been affected in the war, with many towns and villages needing to be “rebuilt from scratch”.

Ukraine will also face demands for broad reforms, especially in cracking down on corruption after Brussels recently granted Kyiv candidate status in its push to join the 27-member bloc.

Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said 11 residential buildings and 39 houses were damaged.

On Saturday, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko accused Kyiv of provocation and said his army intercepted missiles fired at his country by Ukrainian forces “around three days ago”.

Lukashenko denied any involvement in a recent cross-border incident, which would represent an escalation of the conflict.

“We do not intend to fight in Ukraine,” he was quoted as saying by state news agency Belta on Saturday.

“The town of Melitopol is covered in smoke,” said the city’s exiled mayor Ivan Fedorov.

Farmer Sergiy Lyubarsky, whose fields are close to the frontline, warned time was running out to harvest this year’s crop.

Western powers have accused Putin of using the trapped harvest as a weapon to increase pressure on the international community, and Russia has been accused of stealing grain.

…