Russia Announces Full Control of Luhansk Amidst Shifting Battlefield Dynamics

The Russian-installed leadership in Luhansk has declared complete control over the region, marking it as ‘100 percent liberated.’ This declaration by Leonid Pasechnik represents a milestone in the conflict, with Luhansk being the first of the four annexed regions where Russia claims full control. The statement follows prior indications that Luhansk would be fully occupied by Russian forces after three years of war. Luhansk was annexed by Russia in 2022. However, there are conflicting reports; military sources noted that two villages are still not under Russian control and that prior claims of complete capture have been overturned. Moreover, reports suggest that Russian forces have taken control of a village in the Dnipropetrovsk region, but this has not been confirmed. This development is accompanied by the news that the United States has temporarily suspended the delivery of certain weapons to Ukraine. The Pentagon is also reevaluating its military aid strategies.