Russia Claims Full Control Over Luhansk Amidst Ongoing Tensions

The Russian Defence Ministry declared on Wednesday that its troops now fully control the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine, as reported by the RIA state news agency. The Luhansk region, one of four Ukrainian territories Russia claims since 2022, is considered by Kyiv and most Western countries as an illegal appropriation of land.

In addition, the Ministry stated that Russian forces have taken control of the village of Verkhnya Pysarivka in Ukraine's Kharkiv region and Boikove in the Zaporizhzhia region in southeastern Ukraine. These developments come amidst ongoing military tensions in the area.

However, the reported battlefield achievements remain unverified by independent sources, as Reuters could not confirm the Russian Defence Ministry's claims. The situation continues to evolve under a cloud of controversy and international scrutiny.