Russia Says It Took Full Control of Ukraine’s Luhansk (Again)
themoscowtimes.com • • world
Key Points:
- Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed full control over Ukraine’s Luhansk region for the third time since the 2022 invasion, describing it as a “liberation” of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic.
- Independent analysts confirm Russian forces have occupied nearly the entire Luhansk region since summer 2022, though Moscow’s claims have been repeated previously in 2022 and 2025.
- The announcement coincides with reports of Russia preparing for a new offensive in Ukraine, while Kremlin officials suggest the conflict may continue for another year or more despite U.S. peace efforts.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged Ukrainian President Zelensky to withdraw troops from the neighboring Donetsk region to prevent further escalation and save lives.
- Zelensky revealed that U.S. mediators conveyed a Kremlin ultimatum demanding Ukrainian troop withdrawal from the entire Donbas region within two months, under threat of harsher peace negotiation terms from Russia.
