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.

In a significant development in the ongoing conflict, a Russian-backed official declared on Monday, June 30, that Moscow has taken full control of the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine. Luhansk is one of the four territories Russia annexed in September 2022.

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.

The announcement has drawn immediate international attention, particularly from Germany, which has been a key supporter of Ukraine. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, during a visit to Kyiv, emphasized Germany’s commitment to helping Ukraine strengthen its negotiating position.

“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.

Meanwhile, peace talks between Russia and Ukraine remain stalled – with both sides presenting “absolutely contradictory” demands, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Related: Russia signals willingness to negotiate peace deal with Ukraine at neutral site in SLOVAKIA, but Ukraine rejects it.)

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.

Follow WWIII.news for more news about the Russia-Ukraine war.

Watch Russian President Vladimir Putin sharing that Russian troops have liberated 99 percent of the Luhansk People’s Republic in this clip.

This video is from the Cynthia’s Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Russia goes on the offensive: Here’s what’s behind the advance in Ukraine’s Kharkov Region.

Russia gaining the UPPER HAND in Ukraine conflict, Pentagon admits.

Ukrainian soldiers dismiss peace deal with Russia, vow to fight on as Ukraine heads toward collapse and Zelensky is exposed as dictator.

Sources include:

RT.com

APNews.com

English.AlMayadeen.net

Brighteon.com