The Third Assault Brigade of Ukraine has officially refuted Russian assertions regarding the capture of Luhansk, stating that Ukrainian troops continue to hold crucial defensive positions in the region.
In a statement shared on Telegram, the brigade emphasized that they are maintaining their defense in the settlements of Nadiya, Novoiehorivka, and Hrekivka. This comes despite ongoing attempts by Russian forces to seize the area through both military action and misinformation.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that Ukrainian defense forces are actively holding their ground in Luhansk. This declaration follows claims made by the Russian military on April 1, which stated that they had completed the occupation of Luhansk, a territory Moscow refers to as the ‘Luhansk People’s Republic.’
In October 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated that only 0.13% of Luhansk remained to be captured by Russian troops. However, data from the Luhansk Regional Military Administration as of January 2025 reported that over 95% of the region was under temporary Russian occupation, a figure consistent with reports from July 2025.
The conflict escalated on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, attacking from both land and air along the entire length of the shared border. The invasion aimed to capture Kyiv, utilizing Belarusian territory for its military operations. In the southern regions, Russian forces have occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
President Putin has characterized the invasion as a ‘special operation,’ initially claiming its objectives were the ‘demilitarization and denazification’ of Ukraine, later shifting to the ‘defense of Donbas.’ In September and early October, Russia attempted to annex parts of the occupied Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions. Both Ukraine and Western nations have condemned these actions as illegal. On October 12, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution denouncing Russia’s attempts to annex these territories.
Ukrainian forces assert their control over key areas in Luhansk, countering Russian claims of occupation. The ongoing conflict continues to see significant territorial disputes.