Speaker of the National Guard of Ukraine Ruslan Muzychuk said that the situation in the Lisichansk and Bakhmut directions is now the most difficult in eastern Ukraine, Ukrinform reports..

" Also, in the Slavyansk direction, the enemy is attempting assault operations, trying to improve his tactical position,"

He noted that the Russian troops are striving to reach the administrative borders of Donetsk and Lugansk regions..

The speaker also stressed that fierce battles are taking place near Lisichansk, but the city itself is not cordoned off, it is under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Russian invaders attack the Lisichansk oil refinery, hold part of it. In the city itself, Russian troops are destroying house after house.

Earlier, the head of the Lugansk Regional Military Administration, Serhiy Gaidai, denied the Russians' statements that Lysichansk was cordoned off and controlled by Russian troops..

According to Gaidai, the Russian military approached the neighborhood from different sides, but the city was not cordoned off..