Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu reports that a significant part of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk “people’s republics” (“DPR” and “LPR”) were “liberated” by Russian troops, state news agency RIA Novosti informs.
“A significant part of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics on the left bank of Siverskyi Donets, including the cities of Lyman and Sviatohirsk, as well as 15 more localities, have been liberated,” Shoigu said.
The Russian army has taken control of the residential areas of Sievierodonetsk and “liberated 97% of LPR territory,” the defence minister added.
Shoigu also stated that 126 Ukrainian servicemen had surrendered to Russia over the past five days. The minister noted that the total number of Ukrainian POWs reaches 6,489 people.
“Mainland transport routes have been opened from Russia to Crimea. Unobstructed water supply through the North Crimean Canal to the Crimean Peninsula has been resumed,” the defence minister said.
Shoigu also stated that conditions were established for the recovery of railway routes “between Russia and Donbas, Ukraine and Crimea on six railway sections.” He noted that Russia had already begun transporting cargo to Mariupol, Berdyansk and Kherson.
