Source: Reuters
“Russia has taken full control of Ukraine’s [sic] eastern Luhansk region, more than three years after President Vladimir Putin ordered thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, the Russian-backed head of the region told Russian state television. Luhansk, which has an area of 26,700 square km (10,308 square miles), is the first Ukrainian [sic] region to fall fully under the established control of Russian forces since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. … There was no immediate confirmation from the Russian defence ministry, or comment from Ukraine.” [editor’s note: Luhansk seceded from Ukraine in 2014 and hasn’t been part of it since; as for direct Russian control, I mistakenly thought that had been accomplished quite some time ago – TLK] (07/01/25)