LUGANSK, June 17. /TASS/. The Russian and LPR servicemen have prevented the enemy from setting up supplies between Severodonetsk and Lisichansk via a large diameter pipe, LPR People's Militia officer Andrey Marochko told reporters.

"They [Ukrainian armed formations] also tried to set up supplies between the cities of Severodonetsk and Lisichansk through a large diameter pipe that connects the two towns, they tried to use it as a bridge. But they failed," he said.

According to him, the enemy was forced to pull back. "They suffered losses and retreated," the officer said.

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu announced on June 7 that the allied forces had completely liberated the residential neighborhoods of Severodonetsk and were continuing to take its industrial zone and nearby settlements under their control. Assistant to the Chechnya head and commander of the Akhmat special operations force Apty Alaudinov stressed that the Ukrainian nationalists were holding over a thousand civilians hostage in the Severodonetsk industrial zone. He said that 20% of that area had been cleared of Ukrainian militants.