Isolated Luhansk on verge of survival

The besieged and isolated Luhansk is on the verge of survival, the Luhansk city council reported on Monday.
About 250,000 people who are still trapped in the city have been staying without light, water or electricity for nine days. No mobile or telephone communication is functioning. “Pensions, salaries and social benefits are no longer paid in Luhansk. Local enterprise workers have been living without salaries for the past month at least. Some have even been unpaid for two and a half months,” the city administration said.
Most shops are closed and food is being sold by street vendors from portable stalls. The city is facing serious garbage problems. It is short of food, medical supplies and fuel, the city administration stressed.
More than 500 killed in eastern Ukraine
The fighting in eastern Ukraine has left 568 servicemen dead and 2,120 wounded since the start of the operation against militias in eastern Ukraine, National Security and Defence Council spokesman Andriy Lysenko said on Monday.
Six Ukrainian servicemen have been killed and more than 24 wounded over the past 24 hours, he said.