Lysychansk, Ukraine – A devastating Ukrainian shelling in the Russian-occupied city of Lysychansk left Moscow-installed officials claiming the lives of at least 28 people at a bakery, including a child, on Saturday. Local leader Leonid Pasechnik revealed that 10 people were rescued from under the rubble by emergency services.
The conflict between Moscow and Kyiv has escalated in recent months, resulting in longer-range attacks amid minimal movement on the 1,500-kilometer front line in the nearly 2-year-old war. Ukrainian forces reportedly faced intense Russian attacks over the past 24 hours, with continuous assaults along the front line, as confirmed by Ukraine’s General Staff in a statement on Sunday.
The eastern city of Avdiivka has been the center of fierce fighting, as Moscow attempts to encircle Kyiv’s troops. Ukrainian forces have also been on the defensive in Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, and Zaporizhzhia, according to officials.
Meanwhile, the military administration for Ukraine’s northern Sumy region reported that Russian forces had shelled the region in 16 separate attacks the previous day, targeting border communities. The Ukrainian Joint Forces commander, Gen. Serhii Naiev, stated that Kyiv’s troops had successfully repelled Russian sabotage and reconnaissance units attempting to cross the border in the Sumy region.
The reported incursion by Russian forces in the border region suggests a potential new front to further stretch Ukrainian resources. With Ukraine’s soldiers concentrated in the eastern regions of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv, the situation highlights vulnerabilities that Moscow might be probing to gain an advantage in the conflict. The ongoing tensions pose significant challenges for both nations, raising concerns about the potential for further escalation and loss of life.