What is "popasna"

Popasna (, ) is a city in Luhansk Oblast ( region) of Ukraine. It is the administrative center of Popasna Raion. Population: .

On June 19, 2014, Ukrainian forces reportedly secured the village from pro-Russian separatists. On July 8, 2014, the pro-Russian separatists retook control of the city. On 22 July 2014 the pro-Ukrainian Donbas Battalion retook the city from the pro-Russian separatists. According to an eye witness the pro-Russian separatists had abandoned the town that day. Since then the city comes under periodic attack from the separatists. Land mines have been laid near Popasna. In March 2015 the city only had two stores with some basic products and one pharmacy and residents received food distribution through a volunteer organization. Meanwhile, residents complained about having to pay for public utilities, but being cut off from social benefits supplied by the Ukrainian government.