Russia has taken control of Lysychansk, the last city in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine that was still under Ukrainian control.

According to CNN, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to President Vladimir Putin that the army had captured Lysychansk and a number of nearby settlements on Sunday, according to the country's Defense Ministry.

And Ukraine's military announced on Sunday that it had been "forced to withdraw" from the critical city.

Luhansk is one of two regions that make up Donbas, the eastern part of Ukraine where conflict between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists began in 2014.

The area has become the centerpiece of Putin's military ambitions in Ukraine after his troops failed to take control of Kiev earlier this year.

Thus, CNN estimates, the fall of Lysychansk moves Russia closer to achieving the goal of taking control of Donbas.

"After heavy fighting for Lysychansk, the Defense Forces of Ukraine were forced to withdraw from their occupied positions and lines," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on Twitter on Sunday.

The announcement was accompanied by a photo that read: "Lysychansk: We will be back."

A Facebook post by the Ukrainian military also cited Russian superiority in weapons, ammunition and personnel in the battle for the city.

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