Russia, "Complete Control of Ukraine's Luhansk"... 75% Occupation of Donbas

Airstrikes on Belgorod Province in Russian Mainland... Fighting Expected to Continue
EU Considering Lifting Transport Restrictions on Kaliningrad Amid Escalation Concerns

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Russian military has announced that it has fully occupied Luhansk Province, one of the areas in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. Except for some parts of Donetsk Province where fighting is still ongoing, Russia is reported to have seized control of more than 75% of Donbas. The European Union (EU), concerned about the escalation following the fall of Donbas, is showing signs of stepping back by considering lifting cargo transport restrictions to Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave.

According to Russian news agency TASS on the 3rd (local time), Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu reported to President Vladimir Putin that Russian forces have occupied the entire Luhansk Province in Ukraine. Minister Shoigu stated, "We have liberated Luhansk by capturing Lysychansk, the last stronghold where the final battle was fought in Luhansk."

According to the British Guardian, the Ukrainian military also decided to fully withdraw from Lysychansk, the last bastion in Luhansk Province, after continued airstrikes on the same day. With the entire Luhansk Province falling into Russian hands and considering the ongoing battles in Donetsk Province, the Guardian reported that Russia is analyzed to have occupied more than 75% of the Donbas region.

Belgorod Province, a border area between Russia and Ukraine, was also reportedly hit by airstrikes on the same day, resulting in more than three deaths. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed in a briefing that the Ukrainian military attacked civilian areas in Belgorod and Kursk using 'Tochka-U' missiles and 'Tu-143' drones. The Ukrainian military has not yet commented on the airstrikes, and the battle over the Donbas region is expected to continue until Russia secures control over the remaining Donbas areas.

As the fall of Donbas approaches, the European Union (EU) is reportedly considering lifting cargo transport restrictions to Russia's Kaliningrad due to concerns over escalation. Previously, the Lithuanian government had restricted the transport of strategic goods subject to EU sanctions, such as metal, coal, and cement, from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad.

According to Germany's Spiegel on the 2nd, the EU Commission is expected to announce within this week a policy allowing Russia to transport all items via rail through Lithuania, but is considering limiting the volume of transport to pre-invasion levels of Russia's Ukraine incursion. While Germany strongly advocates lifting these restrictions, Eastern European countries including Lithuania are reportedly opposing it, stating that they should not yield to Russian threats.