Coalition forces to tighten Lisichansk encirclement in two or three days - Pasechnik

The Lugansk People’s Republic militia and Russian forces will be able to completely surround Lisichansk within two or three days, Lugansk People’s Republic Head Leonid Pasechnik said.

“Roughly, another two or three days and we’ll tighten the encirclement; I don’t want to make predictions,” Pasechnik said. “The liberation of Lisichansk will pace quicker then. We very much hope for it. It’s not easy, but this is our assignment.”

At present, LPR militiamen and Russian forces have blocked the road which Ukraine used to supply reinforcement to the Kiev forces in Lisichansk, he said.

“The situation is difficult, but we’re moving forward. The frontline situation has recently improved: we’ve been advancing steadily. As of today, we’ve blocked the last supply route to Lisichansk from the depth of Ukraine which is under control of Ukrainian troops and authorities. So the deliveries of ammunition, food and weapons have practically stopped by now,” the LPR leader said.

He noted that “there is a field section in the area that large fighting vehicles could still use to carry loads.”

Earlier, the LPR Defense Ministry said that Kiev forces outside Gorskoye were in a kill area. It also said that the LPR militia had taken control of the road to Lisichansk and continued to advance towards Severodonetsk.

LPR militiamen have been advancing towards Severodonetsk and Lisichansk since early March; taking these towns is a priority of the LPR Defense Ministry. The defense in depth organized by Kiev forces and their use of civilians as a human shield complicate the liberation of the towns On top of that, the area accommodates several large chemical companies. On May 29, the LPR Defense Ministry said that LPR militia units, supported by Russian forces, gained a foothold in Severodonetsk. On May 31, LPR’s Head Leonid Pasechnik said that the militia controlled one-third of the city. On June 13, the Republic’s Defense Ministry said that LPR militiamen and servicemen of the Akhmat special operations regiment were dislodging Kiev forces from Severodonetsk’s industrial zone.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation to protect Donbass residents from Ukrainian aggression. Earlier, LPR and DPR Heads Leonid Pasechnik and Denis Pushilin asked the Russian leader to provide military assistance. As of now, some 95 percent of the LPR territory is liberated.

The Ukrainian government launched the so-called anti-terrorist operation against Donbass in April 2014.  The peace talks participants have announced ceasefire more than 20 times since the autumn of 2014. Kiev forces regularly violated the truce opening fire with large caliber artillery, mortars and tank guns which were to have been withdrawn from the contact line under the accords. *i*s