![Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council. Photo— [Andrey Gorshkov/Kremlin/Sputnik via Reuters]](https://www.geo.tv/assets/uploads/updates/2022-07-05/426122_9666761_updates.jpg)
After Moscow’s forces took control of the important city of Lysychansk, President Vladimir Putin on Monday gave the order for his country’s military to continue their offensive into the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
At a meeting, Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defence minister, informed Putin that Moscow’s forces now had total authority over the Lugansk region.
Putin instructed Shoigu that the forces stationed there must continue their activities, signalling that there would be no lull in the war and that Russia now had its sights set on the entire Donetsk region.
Putin stated that all military forces, including the East and West groups, had to carry out their missions in accordance with previously agreed plans.
“I hope that things will continue in their favour as they have in Lugansk so far.” In an announcement made on Sunday, the Ukrainian army stated that it was leaving Lysychansk in order to preserve the lives of its soldiers, who were being outnumbered and outgunned by Russian forces.
In his nightly speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described Russia’s escalating onslaught as “the enemy continues to terrorise the border territories of the Sumy region, the city of Kharkiv, and the (Donbas) region.”
“We must dismantle them. It will take a lot of time and superhuman effort to complete this challenging assignment. However, we have no other choic