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Widespread Ukrainian Drone Attack Following Moscow's Control of Luhansk
The Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine has experienced rapid developments, as Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale attack involving nearly 40 drones. Anti-aircraft systems managed to shoot down 35 of them overnight, according to statements by Leonid Bashnik, the pro-Moscow head of the Luhansk Republic.
In a Telegram channel, Bashnik explained that the attack targeted areas within the region and resulted in drone debris falling on an oil depot. Emergency personnel were able to extinguish the fire. He noted that one civilian was injured and received necessary medical treatment. Bashnik also affirmed that Russian forces now control the entire territory.
Regarding the on-the-ground situation, Bashnik announced that Moscow's forces fully took control of Luhansk two days ago, although Kyiv has not officially confirmed this yet. This comes amid claims by pro-Moscow authorities that the area has been liberated 100%, which many analysts see as a significant political and military development reflecting the success of Russian forces in the region especially in the absence of an official statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Meanwhile, Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of "National Defense" magazine, indicated that the liberation of Luhansk ranks among the most important political and military developments of June. It is viewed as an indicator of the success of Russian operations within the context of the "special military operation."
Official statements from Moscow remain absent, as such declarations are usually issued only after local authorities report. Notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly affirmed that the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, along with the Crimean Peninsula which Russia annexed in 2014 have become fully Russian territories, a claim that European countries and many others worldwide consider illegal.
Luhansk covers an area of 26,700 square kilometers and is the first Ukrainian region fully under Russian control since the annexation of Crimea over a decade ago, reflecting a significant escalation in military and political tensions in the area.
