INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Updates with new headline, Ukrainian military statementThe Ukrainian army retreated from the strategic city of Lysychansk Sunday
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.Lysychansk had been the last major city in the Luhansk area of the eastern Donbas region still in Ukrainian hands
and frees up Moscow's forces to advance on Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in neighbouring Donetsk.President Volodymyr Zelensky had earlier denied
Russian claims of Lysychansk's fall before the Ukrainian army announced the retreat on Sunday evening."The continuation of the defence of
order to preserve the lives of Ukrainian defenders, a decision was made to withdraw."Unfortunately, steel will and patriotism are not enough
taken the Ukrainian city of Lysychansk and control the entire Luhansk region, which has been the target of fierce battles in recent
weeks."Sergei Shoigu has informed the commander in chief of the Russian armed forces, Vladimir Putin, of the liberation of the People's
Republic of Luhansk," the defense ministry said in a statement quoted by Russian news agencies.Russian forces and their separatist allies
have taken "full control of Lysychansk and other nearby towns, notably Belogorovka, Novodruzhesk, Maloryazantseve and Bila Hora," the
