Russian forces intensified their attack on the Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk, claiming to have taken control of the neighboring rail hub of Lyman, as Kyiv renewed its pleas for longer-range weaponry from the West to aid it in the Donbas region.

Russian victories have been slow but steady in recent days, indicating a minor momentum shift in the war, which is now in its fourth month. After abandoning its attack on Kyiv in the face of Ukrainian resistance, the invading forces look to be near to capturing the whole Luhansk area of Donbas, one of the more modest military targets specified by the Kremlin.

Russia’s defence ministry announced that its soldiers and allied rebel forces had taken full control of Lyman, a railway junction west of the Siverskyi Donets River in the Donetsk area, which borders Luhansk.

According to the ZN.ua website, Ukraine’s deputy defence minister, Hanna Malyar, claimed the struggle for Lyman was still going on.

The Russians were attacking Sievierodonetsk, which is 60 kilometres (40 miles) east of Lyman on the other side of the river and the largest Donbas city still held by Ukraine. On Saturday, Ukrainian police tweeted on social media that Sievierodonetsk was under persistent enemy fire.

The Lysychansk-Bakhmut road, which Russia must use to close a pincer movement and encircle Ukrainian forces, was also shelled by Russian fire.

“In Lysychansk, there was major destruction,” police added.

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