Lysychansk ( ; ) is a city in the Sievierodonetsk Raion of the Luhansk Oblast in Eastern Ukraine occupied by Russia. Prior to 2020 municipal classification reforms, it was incorporated as a city of oblast significance. It is located on the high right bank of the Donets river, approximately 115 km from the oblast capital, Luhansk. It faces Sievierodonetsk across the river. Its population prior to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine was approximately Prior to 2022, the administration of Lysychansk Municipality included the settlements of Novodruzhesk and Pryvillia. Together with the cities of Sievierodonetsk, Rubizhne, Kreminna and the nearest towns. The Lysychansk area constituted a major urban and industrial hub of the Donbas area, with a 2009 population of about 353,000. In the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the city became the site of fierce fighting, and a major battle, the Battle of Lysychansk, which ended with the capture of the city by Russian forces and the Luhansk People's Republic on 2 July. After the September 2022 annexation referendums in Russian-occupied Ukraine, Russia claimed the city was now part of Russia. During the Battle of Lysychansk, the city's population was reported to have fallen to 10-12,000. It is unknown how many residents are currently in the city. History (1721–2013) In 1721, coal was discovered in the Donets basin near Lisya Balka, a Cossack village established in 1710. In 1795, Lysychansk was the first coal-mining settlement of the Donets basin. Earlier settlements in the area around Lysychansk were completely destroyed by the Muscovy punitive expedition against the Bulavin Rebellion. After suppressing the uprising, the area was resettled with Voronove (founded by Khokhlov's Cossacks), Syrotyne (Popov's and Sirotin's Cossacks), Borivske (partly settled by former residents of the burned the Borovskaya Sloboda), Metiolkine (Metelnikov's Cossacks) and Smolianynove (Smolkin's Cossacks). A local newspaper has been published in the city since January 1918. The current city limits of Lysychansk were finalized by the mid-1960s. In 1962, the city of Sievierodonetsk separated from Lysychansk and became its own independent city. In 1963, the towns of Novodruzhesk and Pryvillia were included in the city limits of Lysychansk and became cities. In 1965, Lysychansk incorporated the settlements of Verkhnie and Proletarsk. Russo-Ukrainian war 2014 During the 2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine the town was captured early April 2014 by pro-Russian separatists. It remained under control of separatists for three months, until 22 July 2014 Ukrainian Ukrinform reported