KYIV – A Russian-appointed official has claimed that Moscow’s forces now fully occupy Ukraine’s Luhansk region, one of the four territories illegally annexed by Russia in 2022. If true, this marks the first region completely seized after more than three years of war.
Leonid Pasechnik, the Moscow-installed leader in Luhansk, told Russia’s state TV that he received a report confirming “100%” control of the region by Russian troops. Kyiv has not yet officially responded to the statement.
This development comes as international peace efforts continue to stall. Russian President Vladimir Putin has refused to agree to a ceasefire and insists on keeping control of the annexed regions, deepening the deadlock in negotiations.
Meanwhile, Germany’s top diplomat Johann Wadephul visited Kyiv and vowed to help Ukraine produce more weapons domestically. He emphasized that stronger military capacity would give Ukraine a better position in any future peace talks.
Russia’s aerial assaults on Ukraine have also intensified. Over the weekend, Moscow launched its largest drone attack to date, killing civilians in the Kharkiv region. Ukrainian officials reported 107 Russian drones in their airspace in a single night.
As Ukraine urges for more air defense systems, Wadephul reaffirmed Berlin’s support. “Your needs are enormous,” he said, highlighting plans to build joint arms production ventures with Ukraine to strengthen its defense and deter further Russian aggression.