Russia Claims Full Control of Ukraine's Luhansk Region

Russia's Defense Ministry announced it has taken full control of Ukraine's Luhansk region.

“Russia’s Ministry of Defence says its forces have taken full control of the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine, suggesting they have wrested control of an area that had remained beyond their grasp since the beginning of their 2022 invasion”

Al Jazeera

The ministry described the seizure as a liberation of the Luhansk People's Republic.

Al Jazeera

Independent analysts estimate Russian forces have occupied nearly the entire region since summer 2022.

More than 99 percent of Luhansk had been under Russian control prior to Wednesday's announcement.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov demanded Zelenskyy withdraw forces from Donetsk.

Zelenskyy had said U.S. mediators passed him a Kremlin ultimatum.

Anadolu Ajansı

Donetsk and Luhansk comprise the industrialized Donbas area.

Moscow's annexations remain unrecognized internationally.

Russia's announcement is largely symbolic consolidation rather than a major battlefield shift.

“NASA is preparing to launch Artemis II with four astronauts on a roughly 10-day mission around the Moon, marking its most ambitious human spaceflig”

AnewZ

More than 99% of Luhansk had been under Russian control for years.

The conflict remains fluid despite Kremlin claims.

This is the third time Russia has claimed full control since 2022.