Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu briefed Russian President Vladimir Putin on the "liberation of Luhansk People's Republic" after claiming to have taken full control of the eastern Ukrainian city of Lysychansk, TASS reported on Sunday.

"Russian troops and units of the Luhansk People's Republic are fighting inside Lysychansk, completely defeating the encircled enemy," the ministry said in a statement quoted by Reuters.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has yet to respond to the Russian claims, Reuters added.