Russia claims full Luhansk control as Ukraine denies
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- Russia's Defense Ministry announced that its forces have fully captured the Luhansk region, stating "Units of the Group of Forces West have completed the liberation of the Luhansk People's Republic."
- Ukrainian Joint Forces spokesperson Viktor Trehubov contradicted the claim, saying there were no changes and Ukraine only holds small patches in Luhansk, held by the 3rd brigade for a long time.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepared a video call with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to discuss possible trilateral negotiations amid the disputed claim.
- Institute for the Study of War noted that Ukrainian tactics are likely disrupting Russian advances and highlighted recent significant battlefield gains by Ukraine.
- A Russian drone strike killed four people in the central Cherkasy region, and drones also damaged a postal sorting center and food distribution site in Lutsk near the Polish border.
- Ukraine's air force reported downing 298 drones, mostly Iranian‑designed Shahed drones, while 20 drones struck 11 sites nationwide.
Why it matters: Ukraine’s denial undercuts Russia’s effort to claim a decisive victory before U.S. mediation, preserving Kyiv’s bargaining stance, while the downing of nearly 300 drones shows Ukraine’s bolstered air‑defense capability that could curb Russia’s offensive momentum; meanwhile, continued drone strikes and fierce fighting raise civilian casualties and strain Russian operations.
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