It is located on the high right bank of the Donets River, approximately 115 kilometres (71 mi) from the administrative center of the oblast, Luhansk.

[2] Prior to Ukrainian 2020 municipal classification reforms, Lysychansk was incorporated as a city of oblast significance.

Along with the cities of Sievierodonetsk, Rubizhne, Kreminna and the nearest towns, the Lysychansk area constituted a major urban and industrial hub of the Donbas region, with a 2009 population of about 353,000.

[5] Earlier settlements in the area around Lysychansk were completely destroyed by the Muscovy punitive expedition against the Bulavin Rebellion.

Lysychansk suffered massive destruction of infrastructure and hundreds of civilian deaths at the hands of the Germans.

This was mainly because their defeat in the Siege of Sloviansk and the evacuation of Kramatorsk made holding the city untenable.

"[14][15] On 24 July 2014 the Ukrainian army claimed its troops had entered Lysychansk and its Col. Andriy Lysenko stated "We will take the town, and the road will be open to Horlivka, then Donetsk.

Some of the most intense strikes occurred late in March 2022, which destroyed dozens of buildings and caused civilian casualties.

[19] On 9 May 2022, Russian troops attempted to cross over the Seversky Donets river with a temporary pontoon bridge near Bilohorivka.

[22] After the Russian capture of Sievierodenetsk, Lysychansk became the last major city in the Luhansk region under Ukrainian control.

[23][24] On 27 June, the CNN reported that civilians in Lysychansk have been urged to leave immediately, as Russian forces gain ground in the city.

Earlier Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said his forces had captured Lysychansk and taken full control of Luhansk region.

Its general staff said that "in order to preserve the lives of Ukrainian defenders, a decision was made to withdraw".

(BBC 4 July 2022) On 19 September 2022, Ukrainian troops recaptured Bilohorivka, a village 10 km from the city.

Light snowfall mainly occurs from December through March, but snow cover does not usually remain for long.

[citation needed] Direct regular bus service is available to other Ukrainian cities, including Donetsk, Kharkiv, Berdiansk, and Mariupol.

In most cases, Lysychansk Central Railway Station became the final destination for long-destination trains.