Geography of Ukraine

According to him, Ukrainian forces have now taken up new defensive positions in the Donetsk region, where they still control major cities. In addition, they plan to launch a counteroffensive in the south of the country.

President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered Russian troops to press their offensive deeper into the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine after Moscow's forces seized the strategic city of Lysychansk.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told Putin at a meeting that Moscow's forces were now in full control of the Lugansk region.

Defense and security analyst Michael Clark commented on the fall of Lysychansk into Russian hands and the consequences it will have on the development of the situation in Ukraine.

Here are the highlights of events related to the war in Ukraine over the past 24 hours:

The loss of Lysychansk

Ukraine has acknowledged that its military has withdrawn from the Donbas city of Lysychansk. President Volodymyr Zelensky promised that control over the area would be restored.

The Ukrainian army retreated from the strategic city of Lysychansk on July 3, as Russia claimed a major victory by seizing control of the entire eastern Lugansk region.

The Ukrainian withdrawal followed weeks of fierce fighting and marked a decisive breakthrough for Moscow's forces more than four months after their invasion and after turning their focus away from the capital Kyiv.

During the night, Ukrainian forces targeted Melitopol twice with long-range multi-barreled rocket launchers, said Vladimir Rogov, a member of the main council of the state administration of the Zaporozhye region.

Here are the highlights of events related to the war in Ukraine over the past 24 hours:

Kyiv: The last bastion in eastern Ukraine may fall

A group of young off-duty Ukrainian soldiers gathered at a military distribution center to enjoy a rare respite from the fighting that has again engulfed their fractured home in eastern Ukraine.

Here are the highlights of events related to the war in Ukraine over the past 24 hours:

Rocket attack on Odessa: At least 10 people have died

Here are the highlights of events related to the war in Ukraine over the past 24 hours:

Syria has recognized the DPR and LPR

Syria has decided to recognize the independence and sovereignty of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, SANA news agency and Syrian state television reported, citing an official source from the foreign ministry.