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Shattered City: Ukraine's Lysychansk Falls Under Russian Control

The fall of Lysychansk was a bloody, protracted victory for Russian forces. Faced with a barrage of relentless artillery and broken supply chains, outgunned Ukrainian troops had no choice but to abandon the shattered city. Amid the rubble of destroyed buildings, residents now face a future of Russian occupation.

A Russian-backed separatist holds a Soviet-era flag, which was raised to mark the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II at the "I love Lysychansk" monument on July 4 after Ukrainian forces were forced to withdraw.
1 A Russian-backed separatist holds a Soviet-era flag, which was raised to mark the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II at the "I love Lysychansk" monument on July 4 after Ukrainian forces were forced to withdraw.
Residents walk past the ruins of the Lysychansk State Mining and Industrial College. Russia subjected the eastern Ukrainian city to prolonged artillery bombardments as it strangled its defenders' supply lines, forcing them to retreat.
2 Residents walk past the ruins of the Lysychansk State Mining and Industrial College. Russia subjected the eastern Ukrainian city to prolonged artillery bombardments as it strangled its defenders' supply lines, forcing them to retreat.
Residents of Lysychansk wait with their belongings to be evacuated from the destroyed city. 
3 Residents of Lysychansk wait with their belongings to be evacuated from the destroyed city. 
Ukraine's withdrawal from Lysychansk has enabled Russia to claim full control of the eastern Luhansk region. But despite losing the city, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on July 4 that Ukraine's forces would continue to fight on elsewhere.
4 Ukraine's withdrawal from Lysychansk has enabled Russia to claim full control of the eastern Luhansk region. But despite losing the city, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on July 4 that Ukraine's forces would continue to fight on elsewhere.
Ukrainian officials told a major international summit that rebuilding the devastated country would need at least $750 billion for a three-stage reconstruction plan. 
5 Ukrainian officials told a major international summit that rebuilding the devastated country would need at least $750 billion for a three-stage reconstruction plan. 
Local residents carry bottles of water past destroyed residential buildings.
6 Local residents carry bottles of water past destroyed residential buildings.
7
Separatist forces ride on top of a combat bulldozer in the city of Lysychansk.
8 Separatist forces ride on top of a combat bulldozer in the city of Lysychansk.
9
A local resident walks with a bicycle past a destroyed police department building.
10 A local resident walks with a bicycle past a destroyed police department building.
A view of the destroyed bridge linking Syevyerodonetsk with Lysychansk. All three bridges linking the two cities across the Siverskiy Donets River were destroyed.
11 A view of the destroyed bridge linking Syevyerodonetsk with Lysychansk. All three bridges linking the two cities across the Siverskiy Donets River were destroyed.
A view of the Azot chemical plant in the foreground as artillery barrages hit positions behind it. Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed his troops to continue their offensive, shelling the Ukrainian strongholds of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk deeper into the Donetsk region.
12 A view of the Azot chemical plant in the foreground as artillery barrages hit positions behind it. Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed his troops to continue their offensive, shelling the Ukrainian strongholds of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk deeper into the Donetsk region.
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