Kathrine Frich
Luhansk is internationally recognised as part of Ukraine, despite years of conflict and occupation in the country’s east.
The region has remained a key battleground since 2014, with Kyiv insisting it remains sovereign Ukrainian land.
Moscow’s claim
Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces have taken full control of the Luhansk region, referring to it as the “Lugansk People’s Republic.”
In a statement, officials said: “Units of the West military group have completed the liberation of the Lugansk People’s Republic.”
The region is one of four Ukrainian territories Moscow claimed to annex in 2022, a move widely rejected by Kyiv and Western governments as illegal.
Luhansk, together with neighboring Donetsk, forms the industrial Donbas area, which has been at the center of the war since 2014.
Disputed reality
Ukrainian authorities have rejected Russia’s claims, and independent verification has not been possible.
According to Reuters cited by Ziare, the situation on the ground remains unclear despite Moscow’s announcement.
More than 99 percent of the region had already been under Russian control prior to this latest claim, raising questions about what has materially changed.
At the same time, Russia said it had captured additional settlements, including Verkhnya Pysarivka in the Kharkiv region and Boykove in Zaporizhzhia. These claims also remain unverified.
Pressure on Kyiv
The announcement comes alongside renewed Kremlin demands for Ukraine to withdraw its forces from remaining parts of Donetsk.
Moscow argues that such a move could pave the way toward ending what it describes as the “hot phase” of the war.
Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said:
“If they made the decision to withdraw the troops and if we then confirmed that they had withdrawn the troops, then the prospect would open, of course, for resolving many issues, including the issue of ending military actions.”
Kyiv has repeatedly dismissed such proposals, insisting that any withdrawal would amount to conceding sovereign territory.
Sources: Reuters, Ziare.com
