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Ukraine: Russia gunning for Donetsk following capture of Luhansk

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Having just captured the city of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, Russia will now focus on taking over the neighboring city of Donetsk, the Luhansk regional governor told Reuters on Monday. While Donetsk is internationally recognized as being part of Ukraine, the city has been under the de facto governance of the Donetsk People’s Republic.

In his interview with Reuters, Governor Serhiy Gaidai confirmed Russian reports that Ukraine has currently surrendered control of Luhansk to Russia, but added that all is not lost.“The loss of the Luhansk region is painful because it is the territory of Ukraine. For me personally, this is special. This is the homeland where I was born and I am also the head of the region,” Gaidai said.

“In terms of the military, it is bad to leave positions, but there is nothing critical. We need to win the war, not the battle for Lysychansk,” Gaidai added. “It hurts a lot, but it’s not losing the war.”

Nevertheless, Gaidai said, Russia is now gunning for Donetsk. “They (Russian forces) will not transfer 100% of their troops to some front because they need to hold the line. If they leave their positions, then ours can carry out some kind of counter-offensive,” Gaidai told Reuters.

“Still, for them, goal number 1 is the Donetsk region,” Gaidai said. “Sloviansk and Bakhmut will come under attack – Bakhmut has already started being shelled very hard.”