Russia Claims Full Control of Luhansk Region as Kremlin Demands Ukraine Withdraw from Donbas
Russian Defense Ministry says forces have ‘liberated’ the eastern Ukrainian region, but Kyiv denies battlefield changes; US envoy talks scheduled amid conflicting claims
MOSCOW — April 1, 2026 — Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday, April 1, that its forces have taken full control of the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine, claiming to have completed the “liberation” of territory that has been partially contested since Moscow’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
“Units of the Group of Forces West have completed the liberation of the Luhansk People’s Republic,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement, using the name Moscow adopted after unilaterally annexing the region in September 2022 . The ministry also claimed its forces had taken control of the village of Verkhnya Pysarivka in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region and Boikove in the Zaporizhzhia region .
More than 99 percent of Luhansk has long been under Russian control, though a small sliver of territory—estimated at less than 1 percent—had remained under Ukrainian control since Moscow’s initial invasion . Russia’s claim suggests its forces have now wrested control of that remaining pocket.
The announcement comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, escalated demands for Ukraine’s capitulation, insisting that Kyiv withdraw its forces from the entirety of the Donbas region—which comprises Luhansk and neighboring Donetsk—to end the “hot phase” of the war .
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“In theory, Zelensky should have made this decision yesterday,” Peskov said, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “As we have stated, he must take responsibility and make this difficult decision. Doing so could save a great many lives. Most importantly, it would bring an end to the active phase of this conflict” .
Ukraine Denies Russian Claim of Battlefield Gains
Ukrainian military officials swiftly rejected Moscow’s claim, asserting that there have been no significant changes to the front lines in Luhansk.
“Unfortunately, we only hold small patches there (in Luhansk), but those positions have been held by 3rd brigade for a long time,” Viktor Trehubov, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Joint Forces grouping, told the Associated Press by phone . He said there were no changes to report in the region over the past six months.
Ukrainian officials have previously accused Moscow of making false claims of battlefield advances to persuade U.S. negotiators that a Russian victory is inevitable . Russia’s battlefield claims could not be independently verified.
The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said late Tuesday that Ukrainian tactics are likely disrupting efforts by Russia’s larger army to advance . The ISW also noted that in recent months Ukrainian forces have made “their most significant gains on the battlefield” since an incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in August 2024 .
Kremlin Demands Donbas Withdrawal as Peace Talks Stall
Russia’s claims of territorial gains coincided with renewed diplomatic efforts. Zelenskyy said Wednesday he would hold a video call with U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to discuss the possibility of further trilateral negotiations .
However, peace talks remain stalled. Peskov said trilateral negotiations between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine are on hold because Washington is “dealing with the situation in the Middle East” .
“The Americans cannot be involved currently in a peace deal because they are dealing with the situation in the Middle East,” Peskov said .
Zelenskyy said Wednesday that while he is prepared for a ceasefire, he will not accept Russia’s demand to cede territory. “We are ready for a ceasefire where we stand. This is a strong compromise position to move towards a diplomatic solution,” he said .
Ukraine refuses to surrender the remaining one-fifth of Donbas it controls, believing Putin would use any territorial concession as a springboard for further aggression .
Russian Drone Attacks Intensify Across Ukraine
As Russia announced its territorial claims, its forces launched a massive drone assault on Ukraine overnight. Zelenskyy said Russian forces used 339 drones in the attack, which struck multiple regions across the country .
In the western city of Lutsk, a postal distribution center and food distribution site were damaged, with images showing thick smoke pouring from the facility . In the central Cherkasy region, four people were killed in a drone attack that hit an open area in Zolotonosha, regional governor Ihor Taburets said .
Two women were killed in a drone attack on a civilian car on the front line in the Kherson region, the Regional Prosecutor’s Office said .
Ukraine’s air force said it downed 298 of the drones—mostly Iranian-designed Shahed drones and cheaper variants—while 20 drones hit 11 sites nationwide .
“We proposed a ceasefire for Easter. In response, we’re getting Shaheds,” Zelenskyy said on social media, referring to the Orthodox Easter holiday .
Background: Luhansk’s Long History of Conflict
Luhansk has been a focal point of the conflict since 2014, when Russian-backed separatists seized control of much of the region. In February 2022, Russia designated the Luhansk People’s Republic and the Donetsk People’s Republic as independent states, a move that preceded its full-scale invasion .
In September 2022, Moscow unilaterally annexed Luhansk, along with Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson—a move rejected by Kyiv and most Western countries as an illegal land grab .
Since then, Russian forces have held the vast majority of Luhansk, with only a small pocket of resistance remaining. Putin claimed in October that Ukrainian forces still held 0.13 percent of the region .
Current Situation
As of Wednesday, April 1, Russian forces continued their spring offensive across multiple fronts, according to Zelenskyy. “The situation on the frontline is currently quite tense—the Russian army is trying to step up its assault activity,” he said on X .
With U.S. attention focused on the Middle East conflict, diplomatic efforts to end Europe’s largest war since 1945 remain at an impasse. The conflicting claims over Luhansk underscore the challenges of verifying territorial control in a war now in its fifth year, with both sides accusing the other of obstructing peace.
SOURCES / INPUTS
Xinhua: Kremlin says Ukraine should withdraw from Donbas
Al Jazeera: Russia claims to take full control of Ukraine’s Luhansk region
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