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Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his defence minister to continue the offensive in Ukraine after Russia captured the city of Lysychansk this week. He called on forces on other fronts to pursue their aims according to "previously approved plans".

The capture means that all of Luhansk region is now in under Russian control.

Newsday caught up with a frontline solider who has been involved in the recent fighting for the eastern city of Lysychansk.

Isaac is a former US Marine, and went to Ukraine as a volunteer to offer military support. He is now fighting in Ukraine's International Legion.

He says "Lyschansk and Severdonesk are known as twin cities, existing side by side, each with about 100,000 people separated by the Donetsk river. But the twin cities don't exist anymore, in any practical sense of the word. There's no economic activity, their nearest fuel station is a 40 minute rough ride on back country road streets, littered with shrapnel. There's no power, or running water. The infrastructure is wrecked, about 60% of the buildings are partially destroyed, and only a few civilians remain, looking after their neighbour's homes, contemplating when or if they should leave."

(Photo by ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP via Getty Images)

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