Putin declares victory in Luhansk after fall of Lysychansk

Region's governor says loss was painful and he expects Sloviansk and Bakhmut now to face heavy attack

• Russia-Ukraine war - latest updates

Vladimir Putin has declared victory in the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk and told Russian troops to rest and increase their combat capabilities", a day after Ukrainian forces withdrew from their last remaining stronghold in the province.

Ukraine's military command confirmed on Sunday evening that its troops had been forced to pull back from the city of Lysychansk in Luhansk, and the regional governor has warned that Russian forces are trying to seize the entire Donetsk region, which, together with Luhansk, makes up the industrial heartland of Donbas.