Ukraine's forces still hold Bilohorivka, last part of Luhansk region - governor

Though Russian troops claim to be advancing on Bilohorivka, Ukrainian forces say otherwise.

 Members of the security forces walk on a street as they evacuate civilians, in Bilohorivka (photo credit: REUTERS)
Members of the security forces walk on a street as they evacuate civilians, in Bilohorivka
(photo credit: REUTERS)

Ukrainian forces remained in control of the village of Bilohorivka, the Luhansk region governor Serhiy Haidai said on Sunday, adding that the situation there is tense, but under control.

"Information is being spread in the Russian Federation about the alleged capture of Bilohorivka and the removal of our people from there," Haidai told the national broadcaster.

"Our troops remain in their positions, nobody has captured Bilohorivka, nobody has entered there, there is no enemy there."

Disputed territory

Some Moscow-installed officials and pro-Russian military bloggers have recently claimed Russian advances in the direction of Bilohorivka, the last part of Luhansk held by Ukrainian forces.

"The situation at the front is tense, but controlled by Ukrainian forces," Haidai said.

 Civilians evacuated from Bilohorivka, Ukraine by the police step out of a van (credit: REUTERS)
Civilians evacuated from Bilohorivka, Ukraine by the police step out of a van (credit: REUTERS)

"The number of Russian attacks has ... increased, but all of them have been repulsed by our troops, who remain in their positions."

Reuters was not able to independently verify the report.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that the situation on the front lines in the east of the country was getting tougher and Russia was throwing more and more troops into battle.

The head of Russia's private Wagner militia said on Sunday that fierce fighting was ongoing in the northern parts of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, which has been the focus of Russian forces' attention for weeks.

Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the founder and head of the Wagner group, said his soldiers were "fighting for every street, every house, every stairwell" against Ukrainian forces who were not retreating.