Russia now controls 80% of the Luhansk oblast in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, the Luhansk governor said, according to The Associated Press.
Before Russia invaded on February 24, the Ukrainian government controlled about 60% of Luhansk, which is one of two regions that makes up the Donbas.
Gov Serhiy Haidai said Russia has stepped up its attacks in Luhansk and captured the city of Kreminna. Now, the Russian forces are moving to take the cities of Rubizhne and Popasna.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday that Russia was starting a new “stage” of its invasion of Ukraine as attacks increased in the east. Fighting is also raging in the Donestk oblast in the Donbas.
Russia has made clear that its current focus in Ukraine is on “liberating” the Donbas as its forces have withdrawn from the northern areas near Kyiv. The separatists in the breakaway republics of Donestk and Luhansk first declared independence in 2014 after the US-backed ousting of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
Errrr – a better headline might be The Lunask Republic now controls 80% of the oblast.
50,000 Ukrainians are fighting alongside the 125,000 Russians to implement UNSR 2202.
lol UNSR 2202 is in the dustbin.
The War Party certainly reneged on signing UNSC 2202, TheKiev regime did. too.
What is UNSR 2202?
Good question, US signs on to UN resolutions for show. Minsk Agreement became UN SC Resolution 2202. But so did the Iranian nuclear deal. So did UN SC R 1244, that ended Kosovo conflict by establishing UN protectorate over Serbian province of Kosovo. US and Europe basically violated it by
recognizing independent Kosovo in 2006!
The rule on sovereignity and territorial integrity was trashed, along with UN explicit management of the province via UNMIK. But NATO managed to insert itself into the security structure under UNMIK — it established military base in Kosovo that today manages the secessionist Kosovo.
All precenents were set there. A foreign power can establish military dominance over ANY portion of any country, declare it independent, recognize it, and push for its recognition. Until today, Russia, China, India and many others do not recognize Kosovo.
Russia returned in kind.
South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Donetsk, Lughansk. And it will be expanded Donbas in Ukraine that for now already has captured Aziv sea coast and Mariupol, Kherson — the key Crimea adjacent region controlling its water, and very likely more. Territorial recignition after Kosovo – is based on who controls it. Whining over territorial integrity is over after Kosovo.
UN Security Council 2202 Resolution
Before the war the oblasts of Donetsk (more than 4 million) and Luhansk (2 million) were among the most populous oblasts of Ukraine. In the 2010 elections these oblasts voted more than 60% for the pro-Russian candidate .
More generally speaking, about 55% of Ukraine’s population lives in the South and South-East and that region contains Kharkiv, Luhansk, Odessa, Mariupol, and Melitopol. And, at that time, the Crimea too. That was the region which in 2010 voted for the pro-Russian candidate.
The issue before the Ukrainian government will be: after the war is over, will this region remain pro-Russian or will it have switched to pro-Western?
Putin may not give Ukraine an option. I heard that Donetsk and Luhansk have scheduled a referendum to on whether to ask Russia to be annexed. Given the last 7 years, I assume they will seek annexation.
I think the real issue is where to draw the line. The Seversky-Donets and the Dnipro rivers might play a role in that.
I think it is tol early to talk about Ukraine sfter the war.
I am very sure that ukraine will look very different.
I would be very surprised if Russia gives up Azov Sea coast line. Mariupol was part of Donetsk. Now, Sea of Azov coast connects to Kherson region, and to Crimea. The importance of Kherson cannot be overstated for the security and water supply of Crimea. Inwould be surprised if Kherson goes back to Ukraine.
If the war stopped today — Azov Sea and Kherson region with their Russian population would not want to return under Kyev’s rule. Russia will never let Azov Sea be again used as
a threat to the Crimea and the Crimean bridge, and Kherson is vital to Crimea’s security, as well as a source of water supply.
The Russian speaking land land between Russia and Crimea would probably join Russia, as well as Dinbas region.
Biden’s musings about Mariupol are bizzare. Azovstal steel complex will not be overrun. All Biden and Zelenski have to do now risk no more lives. Everybody inside can just walk out and Russia has all the facilities ready to receive them. Medical teams are standing by to deal with their condition.
If they continue to shoot in the back those trying to leave — it will not be Russia’s fault. City services are being restored by Russia, ot the mayor of Maruipol that is all the time in the news
from his office in Kyev.
From now on it is anyone’s guess. How far will the military operation go in the east and south to expand and incorporate all Russian speaking areas. How will Russia address Odessa. In Odessa port Ukraine authorities have detained dozens of foreign ships. Thise are hostages, making it diffucult for Russia to attack from the sea. But then Russia can also cut off Odessa region without occupying. One should not forget that the Russian supported Pridnyestrovlye is right by Moldova border, and Russia cutting Odessa off would be conecting to Russia-speaking frozen conflict.
Then there is the question of denazification, which translated in plain language means cutting off Lvov catholic militants from controlling Kyev,
One can do it two ways. Regime change in Kyev, or more realistically cutting off Kyev region from Western Ukraine.
This dominance of Lvov catholics over the 2/3 Christian Orthodox population — both Ukrainian and Russian, cannot continue. The “Ukrainization” means that only the Galician dialect is the only true Ukrainian. This forcible cuktural, religious and lunguistic pressures have crested anymosities over ladt eight years,
Cutting off Odessa would be a blow to Poland which depends on it for sea trade.
Whichever way it goes from here — it will move in the direction of disintegrating Ukraine. And unless NATO gets directly involved — no amount of arming Ukraine will change iit.
In fact, the euphoria of Ukrainian resistance will die down — as more Ukrainians join Russians in getting rid of their Lvov overlords that rule in Kyev. There are many estimates on the number of Ukrainian military joinung Russian, and not likely any of them accurate.
But the essence matters. Un the last eight years it became clear to Christian Orthodox populace that they are being seen by their Catholic masters as Palestinians — undesirable in their own land.
The whole media hype about “Ukrainian” resistance is nauseating. Ukraine has been divided and obsessed with hatreds like never before in its history,
Earlier reports claimed The Luhansk Republic already controlled 93% of its region…
Joe Retard Biden now has less then 70% support of American citizens.
I believe it’s actually less than 40%.
Still enough to win election as most Presidents don’t get much over 30% of the electorate. Question is what percentage of likely voters.
Don’t fool yourself, G. Bye-Done’s complete incompetence will have alienated many Democrats, who will turn to the Green Party, and bring out the Trumpists in droves.
Fake News. The Luhansk Republic controls most of Lubansk, not Russia.
Fake News. The Luhansk Republic controls most of Lubansk, not Russia.
good.