New mayor of Lisichansk: city will be restored from scratch

Lisichansk, badly damaged during the military action, will be restored from scratch, the acting city mayor Andrey Skoryi said.

"People are happy that we have come. About 30 thousand people remain of the population. The situation is: no water, electricity, gas. Boiler houses destroyed, bridges blown up, almost zero infrastructure. The executive committee building is levelled. Everything must begin from square one. There are enthusiasts eager to work. I think, we will assist, together. The LPR Head will help, and our efforts will take everything to a logical conclusion," he said.

The current priorities are restoration of power, water and gas supply, removal of waste, debris clearing, preparations for winter heating season, roof repairs and windows installation.

The population currently receives humanitarian aid, including from the United Russia party. Free meals centres will be soon launched.

"I've just came back from the frontline," the newly appointed mayor said. "I believe we will have services established in a week. The pension fund must be urgently launched, as well as the job centre."

The Republic declared the full liberation of its territory on July 3, as Ukrainian forces were driven away from their last pocket in Lisichansk, shorty after LPR forces liberated Severodonetsk that used to be the main hideout of Ukrainian militants.

Ukraine has been carrying out a military crackdown against Donbass since 2014. Multiple announcements of ceasefires failed to stabilize the situation. The simmering armed conflict escalated rapidly in February this year, and sent Donbass barrelling towards an unprecedented bloodshed. Russia intervened on February 24 by launching a special military operation to demilitarize Ukraine and bring peace back to Donbass. *t