Russian forces captured the settlement of Toshkivka southeast of the embattled city of Lysychansk in the Luhansk region, its governor said on Tuesday.
Luhansk Governor Serhiy Gaidai told Ukraine's national broadcaster that Russian forces had captured the settlement of Toshkivka to the south of Sievierodonetsk, confirming previous reports.
"Unfortunately, the enemy threw at it huge amounts of armaments and soldiers and captured Toshkivka," Gaidai said.
Russian-backed separatist forces in Ukraine claimed on Monday to have taken Toshkivka.
Russian and Ukraine forces have been fighting for weeks for control of Sievierodonetsk.
Ukraine's general staff said in its daily report that Russian forces had also captured the settlements of Pidlisne and Myrna Dolyna, located to the south of Lysychansk.
Ukrainian soldiers defending Lysychansk have come under intense shelling by Russian heavy artillery but are holding their ground, Gaidai said.
