On Monday evening, Russia stated it had fully captured the Luhansk region of Ukraine, claiming this marked the first complete occupation since the invasion began three years ago. The assertion came from Leonid Pasechnik, the leader of Luhansk appointed by Moscow, though it remains unverified. This region, along with Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, was illegally annexed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2022.
Ukraine has yet to respond to Pasechnik’s claims made during an interview with a Russian state TV channel, mentioning something that had happened “literally two days ago.”
It’s worth noting that some reports suggest Russia controls about 20% of Ukraine’s territory, which includes around 70% of Luhansk, yet it’s uncertain if this figure takes Crimea’s occupation into account.
Additionally, there are reports that Russia has stationed around 50,000 troops at its northern border near the Smie region, raising alarms about the potential for a new large-scale attack. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that Ukrainian forces had begun moving to the area a week earlier in anticipation of this Russian offensive. He remarked that the planned attack by Russia in Smie was thwarted by Ukrainian forces in the region.
When questioned about Russia’s intentions, President Donald Trump indicated he was closely observing the situation, stating, “We see what happens, and I’m watching it very well.” Meanwhile, Moscow has intensified its military efforts in Ukraine in recent months, despite Trump’s efforts to influence a ceasefire.
Ukraine reportedly agreed to a ceasefire proposal from Washington, but Putin outright rejected the terms. In June, Russia claimed that the Ukrainian Air Force had launched over 5,300 Shahed drones in escalating attacks, a significant increase compared to previous months.
Europe continues to support Ukraine, though the Biden administration has been facing challenges maintaining its support. The focus has shifted toward conflicts in Gaza and issues surrounding Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
The attempt by the US to mediate a ceasefire appears to be faltering, with limited communication noted between Washington and Moscow since Trump’s last conversation with Putin in mid-June. Trump previously suggested that Putin might be seeking a resolution, describing the situation as a “mess” for him.
Yet, despite such claims, NATO Secretary-General Mark Latte has expressed concern over Putin’s ambitions extending beyond Ukraine, estimating the possibility of future attacks on other parts of Europe within a few years.
In the midst of these developments, Trump set a two-week deadline in May aimed at ending the war, but that timeframe has long since passed without any clarity on next steps. The White House has not provided immediate answers regarding Trump’s future actions or plans to communicate again with Putin.
