Russia has taken FULL CONTROL of Luhansk region, its Moscow-backed governor announces
Russian-backed officials announced on June 30 that Moscow has taken complete control of the Luhansk region, one of four territories illegally annexed in 2022. This marks the first time Russia asserts full dominance over a Ukrainian region since the special military operation began.
Despite Russia’s claim, Ukrainian forces retain a small pocket of territory in northwest Luhansk, indicating ongoing resistance even as Russian forces secured key cities like Severodonetsk and Lysychansk in 2022.
Germany reaffirmed its support for Ukraine, with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul pledging increased military aid and joint ventures to boost Ukraine’s domestic weapons production, aiming to strengthen its negotiating position.
Russia intensified its strikes, launching over 100 drones and missiles in a single weekend, resulting in civilian casualties. Analysts note Russia’s strategy of using drones to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses before missile strikes.
Negotiations remain deadlocked, with Putin admitting “absolutely contradictory” demands between Russia and Ukraine. While prisoner exchanges were agreed upon, broader diplomatic progress remains elusive amid continued fighting.
Leonid Pasechnik, the Moscow-appointed governor of the Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR), announced during a live broadcast on Russia’s Channel One that the region is now “100 percent liberated.”
Pasechnik’s statement came after Russian forces captured the key cities of Severodonetsk and Lisichansk during the summer offensive of 2022 and subsequently secured the surrounding areas. Despite this, Ukrainian forces have maintained control over a small pocket of territory in the northwest of the LPR, including a forested area north of the town of Makeevka.
“We see our task as helping Ukraine so that it can negotiate more strongly,” Wadephul stated, highlighting the need for increased military support. The foreign minister also announced plans to assist Ukraine in manufacturing more weapons domestically.
“We want to build new joint ventures so that Ukraine itself can produce faster and more for its own defense,” he said, underscoring the urgency of enhancing Ukraine’s self-sufficiency in military production.
Peace talks stalled, war escalates as Putin tightens grip
The announcement of Russia’s control over Luhansk coincides with an escalation in Russian aerial attacks across Ukraine. Over the weekend, Russia launched its largest combined aerial assault to date, deploying over 100 drones and missiles. Ukrainian officials said the attacks resulted in civilian casualties, including a six-year-old child in the Kharkiv region.
“Russia is continuing to use increasingly large numbers of drones in its overnight strike packages,” the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for the Study of War said. The think tank noted that these drones overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses and often prelude missile strikes.
During recent negotiations in Istanbul, the two sides exchanged memoranda outlining their visions for ending the war. But no significant progress was made beyond agreeing to conduct large-scale prisoner exchanges and maintain contact.
Putin acknowledged the difficulties in finding common ground, stating, “These are two absolutely contradictory memorandums.”
As Russia claims full control of the Luhansk region, the international community faces renewed pressure to address the escalating conflict. The intensifying aerial attacks and stalled peace talks underscore the urgent need for a diplomatic solution.
Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to rely on international support to bolster its defenses and negotiate from a position of strength. The situation remains fluid, with no immediate resolution in sight.
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